NBT to open up book promotion centres in states

"We are looking for a space of 2,000 sq ft for the book promotion centres where NBT books as well as other textbooks will be sold. We also plan to have a cultural centre where authors can interact with readers. Book launches and cultural program will be an integral part of it," Director, NBT, M A Sikandar said.

The proposal for such book promotional centres was mooted by the HRD Ministry along with the NBT to the Centre, which accepted and made it an integral part of the 12th Five Year Plan.

"We have approached various state governments for this project and have initiated talks with them. Our main point is to promote good reading habits and reach the furthest corner of the country," Chairman, NBT, A Sethumadhavan said.

The first such book promotion centre is set to be inaugurated in Tripura in April, where NBT has been allocated 1,500 sq feet space.

"After Tripura, centres will also be opened in Goa, Pune, Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad this year. We cannot open in haste 20 centres in a year so we are going to open centres one step at a time," Sikandar said.

NBT also plans to dispatch mobile exhibition vans for promotion of books in the targeted areas.

"The funds to develop these centres are being provided by the government itself. The NBT has also written to the chief secretaries for assistance of funds," Sethumadhavan said.

The NBT has also signed an agreement with the postal department to exhibit NBT books at their offices for sale.

"We have received tremendous responses from the post offices where NBT books have been displayed. The postal department has informed us that there is a growing demand for our books and we should increase our supplies," Sikanadar said.