Textbook distribution to be finished before June

KOCHI: Kerala Books and Publishing Society (KBPS), Kakkanad,  is all set to register a new record by distributing school textbooks across the state before the next academic year. The KBPS has so far circulated about 60 per cent of the text books required for next year. According to KBPS officials, this is the first time that an action initiated to distribute books on a war-footing has become successful. Chadrasekharan Unnithan, state coordinator, text book coordination, said that they had charted out a new strategy to ensure smooth distribution of textbooks. “There are around 15,000 government and aided schools in the state. As the first step, we attached around 12,000 with 3,325 aided school societies in the state. These societies are responsible for carrying out the distribution to the schools concerned. By using a special software, we sorted out the indents filed by the government-aided societies of the schools. This made our task easier,” he said. Shortage of staff was another problem KBPS had to encounter but this was tackled utilising  the services of Kudumbashree and  women’s self-help groups. “We hired around 400 women to smoothen the distribution,” said  James Chazhiyoor, stationary in-charge, KBPS.The KBPS has completed the distribution of books in Malappuram, the largest district. About 99 per cent of distribution has been completed in the Thiruvananthapuram district. “There are around 278 aided school societies in Thiruvananthapuram and of them we have covered 276. Distribution in the remaining districts will be completed by April,” said Ansho Kuriakose, manager KPBS. This year the distribution of books is entrusted with the Department of Posts. “Last year, some serious impediments prevented private parcel service agencies in completing the distribution. Last year only one of the two parcel agencies could complete their work. Besides, the rates quoted by the Dept of Posts then were not affordable,” said Chazhiyoor.