Newspaper industry looking at losses of Rs 15000 crore, INS tells government; seeks aid
New Delhi: The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) has reportedly written to the government detailing about the losses print media has incurred over the last couple of months since the onset of Corona Virus. It has stated that the newspaper industry has so far faced loses close to Rs. 4500 crore.
The INS which represents more than 800 newspaper from across the country has also sought an strong stimulus from the government adding that the industry will continue to face the slump in its economic activities for at least next six-seven months and can face losses upto Rs 12,000-15000 crore unless the government come forward with a stimulus package at the earliest.
The INS reiterated the need for critical relief measures, including removal of 5% import duty on newsprint and a two-year tax holiday, both necessary to save newspapers and prevent them from turning sick. Since newsprint accounts for a very significant proportion of newspaper costs, the INS has appealed to the government for its complete waiver.
In the letter to the government, INS president Shailesh Gupta said newspaper establishments were finding it difficult to disburse salaries to employees and payments to vendors.
As per INS estimates, the newspaper industry directly employs about 10 lakh people, while nearly 20 lakh are indirectly dependent on it. Each has been at the forefront of providing life-saving credible information across the country during the coronavirus pandemic and needed the government’s assistance.
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UP hospital fire: PM Modi announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of each deceased
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of children in a fire that engulfed the children's ward of a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased.
At least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the children's ward of the medical college in Jhansi district, officials said, as 16 others injured battled for life on Saturday.
District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College possibly due to an electrical short circuit.
"Heartbreaking! The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss," Modi was quoted as saying in a post in Hindi on X by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
"The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue," he said.
In another post, the PMO said Prime Minister Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in the fire accident at the Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh.
The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the PMO said.
The children, who were in the outer part of the NICU, were rescued along with some of those who were in the interior part.
"Prima facie there is information of the death of 10 children," the DM said.
Those less critical are admitted in the outer section of the NICU while the more critical patients are kept in the interior part, he added.
