(a) whether the Government provide any subsidy on sending of books by post;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the amount of subsidy given during each of the last three years;
(d) whether the Ministry of Human Resource Development compensate this subsidy; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The postal rate in the case of Book packets containing printed books has been revised after a gap of 10 years. This service which was subsidised to the extent of 43% the percentage of subsidy has now increased to 82% in 2001. Even after implementing the revised rates the level of subsidy would be 76%.
(c) The amount of subsidy given by the Department on the service Book packets containing printed books for the last 3 years is given below.
Year Total Cost Revenue Deficit (in Paise) (in paise) (Rs. crores)
1998-99(A) 1113.72 242.40 31.63 1999-2000(P) 1262.87 242.91 46.41 2000-2001(P) 1370.05 243.81 36.27