It seems the print industry has a choice between the devil and the deep red, orange and green sea. I mean, no sooner did we manage to overcome the problems of rising input cost, restrict raids and get a reprieve on a retrospective levy of excise on tags, we hear of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) raiding print firms in Mumbai. Rumours that the MPCB is planning to switch the print industry from green with orange have demoralised the industry.

It’s a pity that a printer in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra have to undergo such travails. And the realisation that there's almost nothing that can be done other than meeting the MPCB officials.

A delegation of printers from Wadala in Mumbai has approached and met Radheshyam Mopalwar, the member-secretary of MPCB. Besides this, printers are seeking the support of the associations. Recently, the Bombay Master Printers’ Association (BMPA) conducted a session in which a MPCB official interacted with printers. They discussed the Board’s decision to issue fresh licenses to defaulters under an amnesty-like scheme; plus the categorisation of printers.  

In a separate move, Mumbai Mudrak Sangh, an arm of Maharashtra Mudran Parishad (MMP), too has approached the Board requesting it to condone the delay in either renewal or registration of new firms. We made this request because we realised that this lapse has been unintentional and mainly due to lack of awareness.

Environmental concerns
I believe global warming is no longer a mere buzz word. It is a reality. The impact of global warming and climate change have been studied by the inter-governmental panel on climate change (IPCC). These impacts manifest in critical areas – and affect livelihoods and economies.  

Considering India’s growing share in total carbon emissions, a strong people’s movement, besides government initiatives, is needed to build awareness and action to reduce green house gases’ emission and to adapt and mitigate the impact arising from global warming.

The ignorance of printers about adherence of pollution control rules and regulation is palpable.

The MMS intends to take the initiative to tackle these critical challenges through awareness. It will invite MPCB authorities and a specialist, who can contribute to a seminar on environmental compliance, which include: regulations applicable to the Indian print industry, health and safety issues and case-studies in clean print technology.  

As a key contributor to global warming, carbon is under attack. Soon Indian printers will have to look at options about reducing their carbon impact. At a first step, MMS, along with its knowledge partner, Environmental Management Centre (EMC) developed a calculator of carbon footprint (CFP). It will circulate a questionnaire to printers and through their responses help them calculate the CFP.

MMP initiatives
The value placed on print education is at an all-time high, thanks in part to the realisation that trained manpower can improve efficiency and improve the quality of print.

In line with this sentiment, the Maharashtra Mudran Parishad’s (MMP) committee, responsible for development of the Institute of Printing Technology and Research (MMPIPTR), has finalised plans for constructing a brand-new 52,000 sq/ft institute building at Panvel in Navi Mumbai. An advisory committee of stalwarts from the print industry is being constituted. The advisory committee will provide future directions for training.

The Rs 12-crore project taken up in two phases will be completed in the next four years. The institute offers three courses – MSBTE approved three year diploma in printing technology; Vocational Board approved one year certificate course; and a two year’ autonomous course for the employees of the printing industry. Once the first phase of the project is complete, the institute will initiate fresh courses. In the next ten years there will be 960 students who shall train in different streams relating to printing.

MMP is creating a corpus fund with the support of our members and print industry to commence work. MMP is simultaneously approaching financial institutions for loan.

I believe that though bank loans are available, there are other ways to finance a cause such as this. At every association meet, I make it a point to make an appeal for a donation. Our income comes from the printing business. It has given us name and fame and the status we enjoy today.  

My appeal has always been: donate a small share of your income, say Rs 1,000 per year to the association for this noble cause of print education. So far, MMP has received 72 donors, and the number is increasing. We have received support from the BMPA in terms of funding the laboratory equipment.

The institute will be complete with shop floor, a hostel with gymnasium, a medical attendance section, basement parking, a museum, and with equipments that will be needed for the courses. There will be four labs- for pre-press, press, post-press as well as digital for hands-on training.

As its outreach initiative, MMP will undertake a series of knowledge upgradation programmes for workers in a print firm. The first programme in the series has been completed at Veerbhumi Press in Jalandar, where 20 persons have been trained. The institute has designed another once-a-week programme for employees. The first one will commence on 15 July and will be conducted for 40 employees of Western Railway.

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