School books distribution moving at snails pace

KOCHI: The inefficiency of private agencies entrusted with the distribution of text books seems to be delaying the process this year also. Though May 27 is the last date for completion of distribution of text books, the process has not reached half way so far.Though printing of text books has almost been completed, the distribution is progressing at a snail’s pace. “The printing of text books have almost been completed. The distribution of the books has been entrusted to two courier agencies,” said M Beena, Managing Director, Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS). The distribution is almost complete in Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod districts. “We don’t expect much delay in completing the distribution of text books,” she said.Earlier, the distribution of the text books was done by the education department. Last year, the duty was assigned to the postal department. As the postal department quoted high rates this time, the tender for distribution of text books was awarded to private courier agencies. The distribution of books in Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kannur districts has been entrusted to Phoenix, a private courier firm, the distribution in Thiruvananthapuram, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kasargod has been entrusted to DTDC.Though Phoenix was entrusted with the distribution in Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Kollam it was withdrawn as it failed to complete the work in a time-bound manner.There were also reports that the delay on the part of the authorities of some school in conveying their requirements in time caused a  delay in printing. To avoid delay, online indent registration facility was put in place. But some of the schools failed to make use of it.