'DAVP advertising rates will be revised'

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi on Tuesday said the government was considering revising upward the advertising rates within a fortnight in the wake of soaring newsprint prices.

“I am aware of the difficulties being faced by the newspaper industry on account of rise in the prices of newsprint and the need for an upward revision of advertisement rates of DAVP (Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity),” Dasmunsi said in a statement.

The minister said he was “currently in the process of consultations with the stake holders to give a final shape to the measures for providing relief to the newspaper industry".  

“It is expected that necessary changes in the DAVP Advertisement Rates policy guidelines could be effected within a fortnight,” he added. The minister was responding to repeated demands by representatives of the newspaper industry to raise advertising rates by the DAVP.

According to the advertisement policy of 2006, all empanelled newspapers are required to enter into a rate contract, which will be valid for a particular circulation and a period of three years.     

DAVP is the nodal key agency of the Indian government for advertising by various ministries and organisations allied to it, including public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies.    

Government advertisements are not intended to be financial assistance to newspapers or journals.