EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Sept 4: On one hand the Union government has repeatedly emphasized to government departments to use digital modes of communication but Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory administration is still following the old modes of communication and printing of coffee-table books is another initiative in this direction.
Though the printing of Coffee-table books is reportedly banned by Union government and it also found mention in a latest communiqué issued by Finance Ministry but despite that various government departments in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory have been busy in printing and launching of Coffee-Table books.
As per office memorandum issued on 2nd of September 2020, by Union Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure on “Economic Instructions-Printing activities”, the printing activities has been discouraged while digital modes of communication have been encouraged by the Ministry with an unambiguous reference about Coffee-Table books, which are reportedly banned.
The office memorandum reads, “As the world is increasingly moving towards adopting digital force multipliers for production and given the fact that using technology innovations for planning, scheduling and forecasting is known to be economical, efficient and effective, the Government of India has decided that there will be no further activities towards printing wall calendars, desktop calendars, dairies, festival greeting cards and similar material by the Ministers, departments/ autonomous bodies and other organs of the government. All such activities including materials which were earlier printed in physical format shall be done digitally online”.
Mentioning about the banned Coffee-table books, it says, “The printing of Coffee-Table books is also banned and appropriate use of E-books is encouraged. Therefore all concerned are directed to make efforts to adopt innovative means to use digital or online method for the above activities”. The concluding paragraph reads, “The issues with the approval of Secretary (Expenditure) will come into force with immediate effect.”
“If the printing of Coffee-Table books is already banned by the Union government then how it is possible that the Union Territory administration would be unaware of the matter”, a senior official said, adding, “It appears that those activities, which are banned in Union administration are allowed in JK UT.”
Another official said that it was most unfortunate that several government departments in Jammu and Kashmir have been busy in the launching of Coffee-Table books, which are otherwise banned by Union. “An enquiry should be initiated by the Union government about the printing of Coffee-Table books in Jammu and Kashmir”, the official said. |
