Textbooks may be delayed next year too

Kochi: Distribution of textbook for next academic year also is set to be affected with Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS), the public sector printing company, missing the deadline for initiating the process this year.

KBPS sources say the company has to initiate the process in August if the text books were to be distributed before June 1 of the following academic year.

“It starts in August with the printing of textbooks with no change in the content,” the sources said. “The tender process for the purchase of paper also starts in August. But KBPS is yet to complete the printing of textbooks for this academic year.”

KBPS has remained headless since additional director general of police Mohammed Yaseen was shifted out in February this year.

Ernakulam collector M G Rajamanickam holds the additional charge of the company now. He has reportedly communicated his inability to function effectively because of his other responsibilities.

The appointment of Tomin J Thachankary as the managing director is mired in controversy with the government keeping it in abeyance till the cabinet meets on Wednesday.

KBPS sources say the textbooks for this academic year have not reached the students till now because of the delay on the part of the government to award the contract on time last year.

“The printing will be over only by the second week of October,” they said. “We are working with only two four colour web machines and the government has agreed for the purchase of a new one at a cost of Rs 12 crore,” said K K Shali, secretary of KBPS Employees Federation.

“The files are now pending with the government. This has to be followed up immediately.” Unless the government appoints a managing director who can devote his or her full attention, our work for the next academic year will also get affected, he said.