Question : CLOSURE OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FORM STORE

(a) whether the Government are planning to close down the form store and its side printing department by issuance of a Gazette Notification at Kolkata;

(b) if so, whether on the plea of modernisation two printing works in Simla and Gangtok and three text book printing works one each in Bhubaneswar, Mysore and Chandigarh are also being considered by the Government for closure;

(c) if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor;

(d) whether due to extensive restructuring and modernisation by the Government about two thousand employees are declared surplus;

(e) if so the details thereof;

(f) whether by the aforesaid notification the Government have directed to complete the job of restructuring and amalgamation by 31st March, 2003 and closure of the printing works and its ancillary departments by 30th April, 2003;

(g) if so, whether by this process the number of printing works or ancillary units will come down to 11 from 23; and

(h) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( SHRI PON RADHAKRISHNAN )

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b)&(c): Yes, Sir. The Government has decided to transfer these Presses to the respective State Governments. In case the State Governments do not accept, these Presses would be closed. The Government of Sikkim has shown its inclination to accept the transfer of the Press at Gangtok.

(d)&(e): Yes, Sir. Due to modernization, the existing employees working on old obsolete technology will be rendered surplus. However, many of them will be trained and re-deployed and the remaining will be offered special VRS as approved by the Government.

(f)to(h): Yes, Sir. As per the Gazette Notification the target for merger is scheduled as 31.3.2003 and for closure as 30.4.2003. After completion of the whole process, the following 11 Presses will be retained and modernised:-

1. Govt. of India Press, Minto Road, New Delhi

2. Govt. of India Press, Faridabad

3. Govt. of India Press, Santragchi

4. Govt. of India Press, Nashik

5. Govt. of India Press, Coimbatore.
6. Govt. of India Press, Ring Road, New Delhi

7 Govt. of India Press, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi

8. Govt. of India Press, Nilokheri

9. Govt. of India Press, Aligarh.
10. Govt. of India Press, Koratty.
11. Govt. of India Press, Temple Street, Kolkata.