Small newspapers accuse DAVP of bias

New Delhi, Sept 27 (UNI) The Association of Small and Medium Newspapers of India today demanded a review of the cases of newspapers which have been rejected for empanelment for getting DAVP advertisements.

Accusing the existing Panel Advisory Committee of DAVP of being biased against small and medium newspapers, the Association said the PAC should be dissolved and new body formed to review the cases of rejected newspapers.

In a statement here, the Association said the PAC considered the cases of 1200 small and medium newspapers and approved only 125 of them. The 1200 papers had already undergone screening, so rejection of such a large number of newspapers was nothing but an attempt to keep such newspapers out of the benefit of DAVP advertisements.

The Association also demanded that small newspapers should be exempted from the requirement of sending their applications online as quite a number of them were situated in areas where they had very little or no broadband connectivity.

It also wanted the last date for sending application for empanelment should be extended from September 30 to October 30.

The Association has already written a letter to Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Das Munsi in connection with its demand.

UNI NAZ NY HS1659