Government of India Press celebrates 150 Years of Existence

+ Kamal Nath urges to have world class presses in India
while appreciating press people working silently, not less than soldiers

+ Govt. to set up a print museum at Kolkata showcasing the history of printing in India

The Directorate of Printing, an attached Office of Ministry of Urban Development, recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of the existence of Government of India Presses. On the occasion, the two-day conference (Jan 17-18) was organized in New Delhi, with main focus to highlight the functioning of Directorate of Printing/Government of India Presses and to apprise all Ministries/Departments about the important role being played by the Government of India Presses.

The union minister for Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs, Kamal Nath releasing a Table Calendar 2013, Telephone Directory of the Presses and Mudran Patrika. The minister of state for Urban Development, Deepa Dasmunsi, and the director (printing) AK Sinha are also seen.Speaking at the function, the Union minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Kamal Nath urged the Government Presses to achieve excellence in the field of printing and to have a competitive edge in the market. The minister also asked to upgrade technology so that the Government Press can compete with the private presses. Funds would not be a problem for technology upgradation, he added. “Ours is a world class country, why can’t we have world class presses,” he asked. The minister also presented awards to various officials of the Directorate of Printing for their meritorious performance, and expected shaping the better future of printing in the country.

Deepa Dasmunsi, minister of state for Urban Development also spoke on this occasion. She emphasised the need to go for skill development through training. While appreciating the hard work of the employees of the Government Presses, she also asked them not to forget the root of letter press days. She also announced to set up a museum at Kolkata showcasing the history of printing in India.

The Directorate of Printing, an attached Office of Ministry of Urban Development, is responsible for executing printing jobs of all ministries/departments of Government of India along with printing of publications of various ministries/departments and also printing of forms for civil and defence purposes. Stocking and distribution of various forms for ministries/departments, as per their requirements are other important functions of the Directorate.

On the occasion, the union minister Kamal Nath also released a new logo of The Directorate of Printing. The Directorate also renders advice from time to time to various State Governments and Central Government autonomous bodies, universities, public sector enterprises on technical matters relating to printing technology. Directorate of Printing has under its administrative control fifteen Government of India Presses including three Text Book Presses spread over the country. An Office of Assistant Director, Outside Printing Branch, Kolkata, one Forms Store at Kolkata and one Outside Printing Branch at Headquarter also function under the Directorate of Printing.

Recently, the Government of India Presses have been modernized with the induction of latest machinery and equipment so as to emerge as a state-of-the-art, efficient and self-sustainable organization capable of meeting all printing requirements of all the departments of the Government of India.