Import duty on newsprint

Apart from the economics of it, we would like to say that the proposal is totally out of place with the role of the media in serving the people's right to know, strengthening democracy, and sensitizing the government about issues of transparency and accountability in governance. Our media is also regarded as a bulwark against violation of human rights. These are achievements that have won recognition of all concerned at home and abroad.

There is no second opinion that one of the best faces of the country is represented by the print media. The policy makers should not overlook the role being played by the media in educating people and creating social awareness on certain core issues. Viewed from that angle, the media is actually part of the overall development process with one of its jobs being to fight all social ills and prejudices. Our print media, at least the mainstream of it, can duly claim to have done its bit in boosting the pace of social progress and reversing the trends that are counter-productive.

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We urge the government to be media-friendly, rather than putting further strain on it by imposing a new import duty on newsprint. It is the duty of a democratically elected government to create the conditions for the media to flourish as a viable institution.

A debilitated or non-viable media will be a burden, rather an asset for a country where social discrepancies and anomalies still greatly impede national progress. We would appeal to the government to examine the issue in all its ramifications, and refrain from putting any extra burden on the print media.