What was your first task after you became the president of the association?
Immediately after taking over as the president, I called a meeting with my new colleagues. We chalked out a tentative plan of action for the activities to be organised during the year to enable us to achieve the objectives of the association efficiently.

What do you like the most about your job?
Serving the print fraternity by providing the best services to members and co-ordinating with government departments to be able to resolve industry-related problems.

What do you like the least?
Destructive politics which are against the interests of the members and the printing industry.

What has been your associations’ recent programmes?
The recent programmes held by our association include free general health and eye check-up camp on Printer's Day on 24 February, the annual socio-cultural Holi Milan, drive to increase the membership of DPA by offering special discount on life membership.

In addition, we also held open houses, a platform for the members to raise and discuss problems related to the cut-throat competition among printers and most importantly, to urge members to bring about a proportionate increase in printing rates in the face of steep hikes in prices of all inputs and overheads.  

What is the biggest challenge your association is facing?
Besides the increasing costs of printing inputs, there is a shortage of skilled workforce.

What are your future plans for the association?
To produce a revised edition of the directory of DPA members which will include their pictures.

What about Rashtriya Utsav?
Yes, we plan to host Rashtriya Utsav - a cultural programme for DPA members and their families to inculcate patriotic fervor.     

What else?
We plan to amend the DPA constitution which was created over 50 years ago. As part of a long-term plan, we want to increase the membership of DPA. With its 1,200 members, DPA is the largest association of printers in Asia. In addition, we are planning to organise a group tour of members to visit PackPrint International, Bangkok, which is scheduled for 31 August - 3 September. This will be materalised by utilising the international co-operation scheme of the ministry of MSME.  

Any plans for training?
We intend to set up a technical training institute and a testing laboratory under the ministry’s cluster scheme. With the efforts of DPA, a printing and packaging cluster for Delhi has been approved by the ministry.                  

Is it true that printers are much more loyal and proud of their membership in associations like Rotary, Lion, Jaycees than in printing associations? Why?
I do not think so. DPA is providing  highly useful services to its members. Entrepreneurs join an association or club considering its aims and objectives, quality, competence of leaders and the achievements made for the welfare of its members.

What are the trends (equipment / software / workflows) your association is keeping an eye on?
We strongly favour and recommend adoption of latest print technology in the fields of software, offset and digital printing.

In a competitive market-place, do printers have to re-model their business concepts and brand-building? If yes, how?
In order to move with the ever-changing times, printers have no choice but to update their printing and allied machinery. In order to keep pace with the state-of-the-art machinery, printers should visit various Indian and international exhibitions and make an endeavour to adopt new technologies.

What does Printers’ Day mean to Badri Kumar Singh?
The Printers’ Day is celebrated to observe the birth anniversary of the father of the art of printing; Johannes Gutenberg. Following his invention and legacy, printers throughout the world have been adopting the latest developments made in print technology from time to time. Printing is a part and parcel of our daily life. The invention of print is one of the best inventions made by mankind.