Booksellers want ‘essentials’ tag, write to PM Narendra Modi, CM Uddhav Thackeray

The Association says the trade has a seasonal purchase pattern and maximum sales are recorded at start of academic year. Pic/Shadab Khan

Citing numerous queries from students, an association of booksellers has urged the government to include educational books in the category of essential commodities.

The Bombay Booksellers' and Publishers' Association has written to the Prime Minister and the chief minister giving the example of Kerala, where textbooks are considered essential items, to seek concession.

The association says not all books are available digitally, while those where PDFs are accessible, it is causing hassles with resolution, font, zoom and other technical issues. It says school books might be available digitally but there are hardly such soft copies available for higher education courses. Also, as libraries are shut, students are suffering, said Narendra Nandu, president of the Association.

"We already have social distancing measures adopted at the shops. If required we can be allowed to open only on selected days in a week and with time restrictions. But we cannot be closed, especially now when promotion is announced for most classes, students and parents are already looking for books to begin with online learning for next classes," said Nandu.

In its letter, the Association said, "Our book trade has a seasonal purchase pattern and maximum number of book sales are recorded at the start of each new academic year, beginning in March. Due to sudden lockdown last year around similar time, the industry has suffered tremendous loss."

"The industry is already bleeding. Last year, the business was only 15 per cent of what it usually is. Government has to learn from Kerala. Educational books are the source of knowledge and it shall continue supply as teaching and learning has continued amid pandemic," added Nandu. The Association represents the demands of 565 members.