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PRINTING India has seen a recent spurt in the number of career openings in this industry. This is due to the combined effect of a spiraling demand for print jobs, and the introduction of new technologies. According to the All India Printer's Organization, there are about 50,000 printing presses of all sizes in the country. They employ around 50 lakh people in a variety of capacities. Approximately one-third of all press workers are in printing craft occupations. Others include artists, photographers, engineers, maintenance, mechanics, labor, dispatchers as well as business and personnel managers. Traditionally, the printing press has been a male preserve and women are only just beginning to enter though some quite successfully so. It has also become a new area for entrepreneurship for young people wanting to branch out on their own. Main Area of Work Printing presses fall under several broad categories, and vary in size and output, depending on their production capacity and area of specialization. These include: NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALSM Which together with publishers of books and journals are the biggest employers in the organized sector. Though the most visible, newspapers are the least typical of all printing establishments. Jobs here are run on fixed schedules, and speed and accuracy are the key factors. Most large newspapers have presses attached to them, and require hundreds of skilled personnel for their operation. Periodicals with lower circulation could on the other hand, employ ten people or less, to staff their small job presses. While the majority of these are located in the four metros the number of printing presses owned by regional newspapers is growing. At present there are nearly 300 presses operating in this sector. BOOK PRINTERS Undertake high quality jobs and include book paging and binding. Some specialize in art reproduction as well. Currently, over 900 private and public printing presses in India produce books, journals, atlases, art publications and other similar materials. They provide employment to over 70,000 people. PRIVATE COMMERCIAL PRESSES AND JOB SHOPS Are the next largest employers in this field. These can be large organizations, with several departments and a huge staff, handling high volume production and a number of jobs at one time or small self-owned units offering personalized service to a single client or print order. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of these presses in operation today-those registered as employing ten workers or more, are well over 800, with a total employment figure of almost 50,000. Commercial printers handle a variety of production jobs, ranging from greeting cards and calendars, to company brochures and newsletters. Some specialize in certain types of work, such as: Packaging Which includes the design, printing, sometimes production of all kinds of packing materials-like paper, cellophane, plastic/polythene, board, metal foil, or even leather or glass. Stationery Usually produced by very small units, often attached to a bookstore or large stationer. They usually take only limited orders-generally personalized stationery, like letterheads, envelopes and calling cards-and deliver fairly quickly. CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT PRESSES Where bank notes, currency postage stamps, government papers and forms are printed. Due to the sensitive nature of the material they handle, these are high security presses. There are ten such units located in different states, employing over 4, 000 people. SUPPLY UNITS Service the printing industry, by providing for their engraving, block making and other needs. The majority of these are small workshops, with an average staff of about 100 though some of the larger units could employ upto 500 people each. DESKTOP PRINTERS Have mushroomed in the last few years. The entire process, using a computer with special graphics and typesetting programmes, together with laser printers, can be operated single-handed. It is quick and cost effective, and therefore very popular for small print jobs. Most printing presses are located in large cities and towns where there is greater access to new equipment and opportunity for sustained growth. Though small towns do have their own production units, their scope is limited to servicing local needs, and there is little room for expansion. India has seen a recent spurt in the number of career openings in this industry. This is due to the combined effect of a spiraling demand for print jobs, and the introduction of new technologies. According to the All India Printer's Organization, there are about 50,000 printing presses of all sizes in the country. They employ around 50 lakh people in a variety of capacities. Approximately one-third of all press workers are in printing craft occupations. Others include artists, photographers, engineers, maintenance, mechanics, labor, dispatchers as well as business and personnel managers. Traditionally, the printing press has been a male preserve and women are only just beginning to enter though some quite successfully so. It has also become a new area for entrepreneurship for young people wanting to branch out on their own Career Structure
Entry can be as: Apprentice Under the apprenticeship scheme. This requires a minimum educational qualification of matriculation or its equivalent or tenth class pass in the 10+2 system, with proficiency in English. Recruitments are made directly by employers. Under the Apprentices Act, 1961, trade apprenticeship courses are available to persons in various government and commercial printing presses. The minimum requirement is eighth class pass, and age, at least 14 years. The duration of apprenticeship varies from two to three years. Apprentices are required to sign a contract before joining training. They are paid a stipend, which starts at Rs 230 per month and increases each year to a maximum of Rs 350 by the fourth year of training. State apprenticeship adviser may be contacted for further details on this scheme. Composing Room Where all text matter is `composed', proof read, and made ready for the press. Photo-Engraving/Block-Making Which involves preparation of metal printing plates of illustrations, pictures maps, charts and other images that cannot be set in type. Electro-Typing/Stereo-Typing Concerned with process for duplicating type matter to be printed. Lithography For printing multi-color jobs. Machine Room Where actual printing operations take place Book Binding/Packing May be in a bindery of a large press or undertaken by job binders. It involves a number of separate tasks, including assembling, folding, gathering, cutting stitching and fixing covers. This used to be a labor-intensive area, but is becoming increasingly mechanized. Career Prospects
After completion of training, a printing professional can employment in: · A commercial press · A government press · A newspaper or magazine-in the production depart · A publishing house-in the production department Freelance work Mainly as a coordinator. Though it can very lucrative, freelancing requires a great deal self-motivation, as also the building of contacts credibility with both clients and printers. It is therefore advisable, as a career option only after sufficient experience has been gained in a large organization. Self-owned Press Requires large capital outlay, credibility and contact with potential clients. It is a risky business a personal attributes must necessarily include business acumen, aggressive salesmanship and self motivation Nationalized banks and other financial institutions do offer loans of upto Rs 2 lakhs-repayable in five to seven years-for the setting up of small printing presses. There however, a great deal of paperwork involved with the bank and other concerned authorities, during the start up process DIVERSIFICATION Printing professionals, after a few years' experience, often diversify into jobs in the production departments of: · Advertising agencies · Publishing houses FUTURE PROJECTIONS The current phenomenal economic and industrial growth that India is experiencing has had its impact on printing as much as other areas. The spread of literacy; increased government and business activity and economic affluence in general has led to a greatly expanded demand for printing materials of all kinds. With the growth of related areas like publishing, newspapers and packaging exerting increasing pressure, the printing industry is at present faced with a huge under-employment problem. With the gap between demand and supply of skilled personnel likely to widen considerably in the coming years, it would mean many more opportunities and better wages for those who wish to take up printing as a career. RELATED CAREERS Art and design; engineering; publishing; science. Courses & Institutes
Six regional schools of printing technology, located at Bombay, Allahabad, Madras, Calcutta, Delhi and Pune train students in all aspects of printing technology. Trade courses in printing are also conducted at industrial training institutes located all over the country. Local institutions in various states also offer courses in printing technology. Eligibility Regional Schools of Printing High school graduates with mathematics and science with a minimum of 60 per cent marks in these subjects. The age limit of 17-20 years can be relaxed for graduates. ITI Courses Tenth-class or matriculation for hand composing and proof reading course; eighth class pass for Bookbinding. Selection is made on the basis of merit. Three years full-time, followed by an apprenticeship period ranging from six months to one year. Certificate Coursem-Three years full-time Degree Course-Three years full-time Trade Course-One year Four and five-year part-time courses are also open to bona fide press workers and apprentices INSTITUTIONS 1. K.E.S. Topiwala Industrial School, Uttar Pradesh 2. Northern Regional School of Printing Uttar Pradesh 3. College of Vocational New Delhi 4. Delhi University New Delhi 5. Pusa Polytechnic New Delhi |