Balbharati, the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research has put small-scale publishers in a spot by increasing the registration charges. The move may deprive students studying in regional languages, claimed private publishers as they will not be able to publish class XI new curriculum textbooks that bureau is planning to bring in from next year.
As per the the decision, the increase in the registrations charges for next year will be from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 and 15,000 plus for renewal and new private publishers to obtain license shocks the publishers community. The Bureau announced its textbook copyright policy on May 25, restricting private publishers including print, digital and class owners from issuing supplementary books without license from the academic year 2018-2019.
Hike in registration fees has not gone down well with the private publishers. The Balbharati that introduced the copyright police initially decided to charge Rs 1,000 for registration fees for private publishers. However, they have published revised policy this month for the private publishers who wish to renew their registration and also do new registrations. The fees for new application have been decided Rs 15000 plus GST Rs2700 that is 17,700 and for renewal it is 10,000 plus GST 1800 that is Rs 11,800.
Publisher from South Mumbai, said, "The price the bureau have hiked is very surprising for all private publishers. For this year registration, the bureau charged only Rs 1000. Suddenly they have jumped with registration charges from Rs 1000 to 15000 is shocking. Apart from that, the bureau will also come up with the new curriculum for class XI in the next academic year which state board use to come up. However, we came to know that the bureau has planned to publish books of class XI only in Marathi and English languages and no other. What will the other students do who are doing their junior college studies in other languages? Small publishers who were coming up with regional language textbooks will not be able to afford the cost of the license. The bureau should let small-scale regional publishers publish textbooks for class IX like earlier. If bureau decides to publish class IX textbooks in other languages also then it will benefit more then 20,000 students."
In 2018 the Balbharati brought new curriculum for class I, VIII and X. The bureau is now going to come up with the new curriculum for the standard II and XI students in next academic year according to bureau officials. Till last year the curriculum of class XI was formed by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Higher Secondary Education. However, this year it has been decided that Balbharati will form a curriculum for class X, XI and XII as well. Hence after class X, now its time to come up with the new curriculum for class XI for next academic year.
Sunil Magar, Director, Balbharati, said, "It was our first time so the charges were less. After experiencing the registration process of private publishers we decided to increase the registration charges for them." When asked whether books of class XI will be published in all languages. Magar, said, "It will be published only in those languages in which they are taught. What is a need of publishing in all languages."
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