Kannada book publishers have urged the Centre to exempt book publishing from GST (goods and services tax), according to Vasundhara Bhoopathi, Chairperson of the Kannada Book Authority (KBA).

Addressing presspersons in Mangaluru on Tuesday, she said that KBA had conducted a meeting of publishers in Bengaluru recently to discuss their problems and challenges. The publishers were of the opinion that book publishing should be exempted from GST. At present, they are paying 18 per cent GST, she said.

A memorandum has been submitted to the Centre through the Commissioner of Income Tax in Karnataka in this regard, she said.

Publishers from many other languages have also submitted such requests to exempt book publishing from GST. Bhoopathi said that she was hopeful of a positive response from the Centre in this regard.

On the activities of KBA, she said that the authority is planning to use online marketing facility to sell the books published by it.

Though KBA has published more than 560 books, nearly 360 of them will be available for sale on online platform.

Online marketing of books published by it would be formally launched on November 30, she said.

Stressing the need to document the growth of Kannada book publishing sector, she said the authority is planning to come out with a publication on this in the coming days. A committee will be constituted soon to look into this matter.

Plans are also there to train women in all aspects of book publishing. In this regard, women will be trained in proof reading, page design, and other subjects related to book publishing, she said.

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