Post-GST, Delhi’s Nehru Place footfall down by 60%

The hub of the IT hardware business in Delhi seems to have lost its buzz after GST came into effect. While some traders are yet to understand the revised taxes, others still do not have a new invoice format for bills. A visit to the market revealed that the usually-crowded lanes are empty, and traders are strictly following the 'only cash accepted' rule. Some traders were ready to accept credit/debit cards, but that option also came with a rider: 2% charge extra lagega card pe, karni hai toh karlo payment.

A shopkeeper, without wishing to be named, claimed that he had got new stock after GST, but was selling items with bills with older dates. He said, “The market is only running on cash after the announcement of GST. Only 10% of our customers are ready to pay the new tax. The rest are only looking for ways to evade the tax. They either question us about GST or ask if they can still get a printer at the old price. The printers are divided into two slabs now - the ordinary ones have 18 % tax on them, and the multifunctional ones have 28%. But we are selling all printers at the earlier tax rate, which was close to 18%.

While some shopkeepers admitted that they were giving bills from the previous month to evade the new tax, others put the blame on their customers. Raj, a hardware shopkeeper, said, “We have the invoice of the new format of the bill, but when we ask our customers if we should do the billing in the new format, they ask us for an alternative.” (The Time of India)

Print media grew 61% in 10 years: ABC

Bucking the worldwide trend, the print media in India has grown by 61% in the last 10 years, figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) show. Average sale of copies per day has increased from 3.91 crore in 2006 to 6.28 crore in 2016, according to figures published by the circulation watchdog.

The ABC, which certifies the circulation figures of publications every six months, reported that the print industry in India has been growing at an “incredible” CAGR of 4.87% over the 10-year period, with 251 publishing centres added to the 659 back in 2006.

Growth has been strongest in north India, where print grew by 7.83% CAGR during the period, followed by the south with 4.95%. Much of the growth of the industry is due to the robust growth of regional titles, with Hindi publications topping the growth chart by a CAGR of 8.76% followed by Telugu with 8.28%.

English newspapers grew at the rate of 2.87% in the same time. The ABC report drew upon projections by KPMG which indicated that print would hold its place as the second biggest media platform in India, next to TV, right into the 2020s. Print industry size is tipped to grow to Rs 431 crore by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.3%. (The Indian Express)

Nita Bhalla of Thomson Reuters Foundation named Journalist of the Year at SOPA 2017

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), a Hong Kong-based not-for-profit organisation, named Nita Bhalla of Thomson Reuters Foundation the Journalist of the Year at the SOPA 2017 Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday evening for her reporting on human trafficking and slavery in South Asia. 

Awards for Scoop of the year across the three award categories — global, regional and local media — went to Thomson Reuters (“The Bangladesh Bank Heist”), MLex Market Insight (“MAXpower Bribery Scandal in Indonesia”) and WeMedia01 (“Abuse of Policy on Village Houses in New Territories”).

These awards were among the 95 SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence announced at the event, now in its 19th year. The SOPA Awards, widely considered the most prestigious in the Asia-Pacific publishing industry, this year saw a record number of entries competing in 17 categories, including more than 750 English or Chinese-language submissions by global, regional and local media across the region.

The entries were assessed by a judging panel appointed by the Journalism & Media Studies Centre (JMSC) of the University of Hong Kong. The panel comprised more than 100 media professionals, including journalists, editors and columnists from some of the region's most influential publications, along with academics from a number of Asia's leading journalism schools. (The Society of Publishers in Asia)

EC comic on poll process draws out lone voter in Gir forest

At a time when several political parties have targeted the electoral process in the country with allegations of EVM tampering, the Gujarat office of the Election Commission of India has prepared a comic book with seven stories about the electorate to spread awareness about the voting process. The book, titled Sentinels of Democracy, also touches upon the lives of officials who conduct the polls in remote corners of the country.

Most characters in these stories are fictional. In one of the stories, Rajasthan-based politician Muralilal gets caught up in various activities on the polling day and forgets to send his driver to bring his aged mother and wife to the polling station. He ends up losing the election by one vote. In another story, a Singapore-based investment banker shows his dedication to democratic process by visiting India to cast his vote.

Some of the stories contain real-life references too. One story mentions Guru Bharat Das, the solitary voter who lives near Banej village in the middle of the Gir sanctuary, but has never missed the chance the cast his vote. During elections, a small room of the forest department turns into a polling station where Das casts his vote. The book also narrates how some polling officials in 1999 trekked 45 km in knee-deep snow to reach Ralakung and Phema villages in Jammu and Kashmir, which have only 37 voters. The polling stations, located 13,500 feet above the sea level, recorded 100% vote that year.

This book has been put together by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat in collaboration with Ahmedabad-based Research Foundation for Governance in India (RFGI), an institution that describes itself as a think-tank aimed at research, promotion and implementation of various reforms to improve the legal and political process. “The lawtoons have been created keeping young voters in mind. It is a simple way of explaining complex processes,” BB Swain, Chief Electoral Officer, Gujarat, said. (The Indian Express)

Fake currency notes, machine seized in Kerala

Fake currency notes amounting to Rs 1.5 lakh and machines that can print such notes were seized during a raid at a Yuva Morcha leader’s home in Kodungallur in Kerala. The police raid was conducted at the home of Yuva Morcha Panchayat committee member Rajesh Erachery. Yuva Morcha is the youth wing of the BJP.

The fake notes were in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 2000. The printing machine was found to be set up inside a specially-designed room on the second floor of the house. Ink and other materials were also seized. Cash amounting to Rs 9 lakh was also recovered by the police during the raid.

Rajesh, a prominent BJP leader in the area, has not been arrested yet. Efforts are on to nab him. He is known to loan money to local people in the area. (The Indian Express)

Click here to download the PrintWeek India Awards 2017 entry form