KOCHI: The Kerala Books and Publishing Society (KBPS) has decided to outsource the printing and bar-coding of Kerala lotteries, which can fetch a profit of Rs 6 crore per year.
According to chairman Raju Narayanaswamy, textbooks and lotteries are currently printed at the KBPS facility. Considering the backlog in the printing of textbooks, it was decided to look for other options to ensure that textbooks and lotteries are printed on time.
When tenders were floated for the printing of lottery, a Bengaluru-based company quoted the lowest amount of 4.8 paisa per lottery ticket, including barcoding. It also agreed to install two modern machinery in Kochi for the printing of lottery.
According to Narayanaswamy, printing of one lottery at KBPS costs 10.44 paisa - 5.44 paisa for printing and five paisa for barcoding. When the printing is outsourced, the total printing cost will be 5.99 paise per ticket, including the overhead cost.
“The savings on each lottery will be 4.45 paisa, which will amount around Rs 6 crore in a year. At present, five lotteries, including Pournami, Win- Win, Akshaya, Bhagyanidhi and Karunya are printed here. A total of 2.5 core lotteries are printed in a week,” he said, adding that the decision was taken after taking the employees’ unions into confidence.
“This year, all the machines will used for textbook printing. The Bengaluru- based company will invest Rs 16 crore for installing the machines. A team of officials, including union representatives of the KBPS, will visit Bengaluru shortly to have firsthand information in this regard,” Narayanaswamy said.
The amount saved by outsourcing the printing will be used for modernising the KBPS. From the next financial year onwards, textbook printing will be given priority so that they could be released on time.
“There are also plans to undertake third party printing works, which would increase the profit of the Society. Lottery printing by the private company is expected to start within a month,” he added.