Book Fair: Awards for excellence in display

In a recently concluded Delhi Book Fair and 19th Stationery and Office Automation Fair at Pragati maidan, many participants bagged the Award for Excellence in Display. Deepak Kumar, IAS, Executive Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) gave away the awards, which were mainly presented in different categories comprising Hindi, regional and English languages.

Present on the occasion were, N K Mehra, President, Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP), Vikas Malhotra, General Manager, ITPO, Navin Gupta, General Secretary, FIP, among many others.

In Hindi language category, Kitabghar Prakashan won a gold medal, Sahitya Academy, bagged silver and Samyak Prakashan won a bronze medal. In the English language category, Upkar Prakashan won a gold medal; Full Marks and Navneet Education were not much behind and received silver and bronze medals, respectively. Publication Division, Ministry of I & B, Government of India, bagged a gold, Akshar Publication

won a silver medal and the bronze went to National Book Trust in the regional language category. The Jury Commendation award was presented to Ahmadiya Muslim Jaamat, Delhi.

Awards were also given away for Excellence in Display in the Stationery & Office Automation Fair, Upkar Stationery – gold, VS Dry Fruit Mart – silver and Million Penn – bronze.

MBD group, the Education Company won five awards and Monica Malhotra Khandari, MD, MBD Group, received the awards from Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Culture; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. MBD Group's 'New Learn well Hindi Surabhi -Grade 3'and 'Integrated Social Studies – Grade 6' bagged top prizes in the Text Books: School (Kindergarten to 8th) in Hindi and English category respectively. While 'Modern's ABC of Science Biology Class X'– English won second prize in Text Books: School (Classes 9th to 12th).

Another MBD publication 'Educating India' also won the top award in the Price Lists, Catalogues, and Brochures (English) category. The 'Learnwell Paryavaran Grade 2'-Gujarati, also won the second prize in Text Books: School (I) Primary and Upper Primary (Kindergarten to 8th) regional languages category.

Complimenting the Award winners in his key note address, Deepak Kumar, ED, ITPO acknowledged efforts of the FIP in the fair in spite of all challenges. Emphasizing on the need to promote reading habit among the next generation, he said, "Efforts must be made to produce low-priced books to cater the needs of people at the grass root level.

Despite the advent of the digital era, paper books are relevant today and would remain so in future."