You may call it a paradox, but the Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation (TNTC) in the city faces a paucity of Tamil medium textbooks, for classes 1-12. Also, English medium textbooks for classes 6, 7 and 10 were out of stock on Tuesday. This could not have been timed more inappropriate as schools across the State reopened after the summer holidays just two days ago. Worse, people may have to endure waits ranging from a few days to a week to lay their hands on the books.
Serpentine queues were the norm on TNTC premises throughout on Tuesday, where many had to endure lengthy waits to purchase the books, only to be told that they were out of stock. Some persons vented their anger at those managing the counters. Soon, notices were put up detailing the particulars of the books that were out of stock.
A source blamed logistical problems as a probable reason for the shortfall. “We are told that the books have been printed and are ready for distribution. But we do not know why we have not yet received them. Hence, we suspect a logistics problem as the obvious reason.”
There were people standing at the counters of private book shops urging the disappointed visitors to try their luck at bookstores in Triplicane and Broadway.
Sashidaran, a resident of Ayanavaram, who had waited for over five hours and braved the evening rain to purchase Plus-1 and Plus-2 textbooks, was crestfallen when he was informed that not all texts for Plus-1 were available. “I paid Rs 270 for Plus-2 books, Rs 170 for Plus-1 books and Rs 350 for question banks,” he said and added that he would wait for a while when bookstores nearby start selling the books, as coming to the centre again would make little sense.
An official, however, had a different take: The increased demand for books across the State was due to private schools purchasing the books in advance for distribution to their students so that the classes could begin in right earnest, he said. “We have also had many people purchasing the Plus-1 and Plus-2 books for preparation for the TET exams. We expect the situation to normalise in a week or so,” he said.
Meanwhile, calls and text messages to Minister for School Education Vaigai Selvan went unanswered.
