Team Herald
MARGAO: Bookstore owners across Goa have urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to initiate immediate action against schools selling stationery and notebooks on campus.
The Goa Book Sellers Association has accused the schools of making it mandatory for students to make purchases from designated vendors linked to these institutions.
In the petition to the Chief Minister, the Association said, “Several schools have resorted to commercial activities within their premises, with some even involving their staff in conducting stationery sales.”
“This practice is eating into the business of independent booksellers and forcing parents to pay inflated rates under the pretext of supporting school infrastructure. We the members of the Goa Book Sellers Association would like to bring to your notice that many schools in the State are indulging in commercial activities like selling notebooks and school stationery items,” said association president Chandrakant Pandit in the complaint addressed to the CMO.
He said, “Several managements have made it compulsory that the student/ward purchase the items from the institute even though many a time the value paid is much higher than the market rates.”
Pandit pointed out that these institutes are not registered with the Commercial Tax Department under the GST regime or with the Income Tax Department, and without disclosures.
“It is due to this that our businesses are suffering and our total sales values have dropped drastically,” he said.
“Many booksellers in the State are dependent on the local schools in their area to run their businesses. It is our earnest plea to you to put an end to this long-standing problem and take disciplinary action against the erring institutions.”
The association also noted that these practices violate recent directions from the Chief Minister, who had warned government-aided schools against collecting infrastructure fees from students in any form.
Speaking to mediapersons, a bookseller from South Goa said that some principals have been approached by outside vendors offering discounts and incentives at the start of the academic year.
“They do their business and leave, without any overheads. Most schools have started doing business instead of focusing on imparting quality education to students. Goan shop owners who pay rent and taxes suffer,” he said.
The booksellers hope that the CM will intervene and ensure that schools stay focused on education rather than retail sales.