By A Correspondent
You will not read this interpretation in any newspaper. Nor will any news channel discuss this in its various panel discussions. Perhaps social media may. But you never know. For, it’s seen as a sop to newspapers ahead of the elections – the rest of the State elections to be held this month and next and the 2014 general elections. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has granted an interim hike of 19 percent in DAVP rates for the print media with effect from October 15, 2013.
The rate card decided by the 6th Rate Structure Committee (RSC) was valid till October 14 and even though a 7th RSC was constituted by the MIB on May 31, 2013, the recommendations haven’t come in so far. According to a communiqué, the ministry has received a number of representation from various stakeholders and DAVP for grant of immediate interim relief in the Print Media Rate Card of DAVP pending revision of rate card on the basis of recommendations of 7th RSC.
Accordingly, a proposal for grant of an interim hike was considered by the MIB in consultation with Ministry of Finance and the Election Commission of India. All stakeholders have been to cooperate with the Rate Structure Committee so that its recommendations may be finalized at the earliest.