Nagpur: Prices of school study materials have gone up significantly on account of the rising cost of raw materials and paper production. From books to bags, uniforms to van/bus… cost of everything has gone up and will pinch the parents next month as the shopping spree starts. The rise, about 60 percent, has taken place over the past six months.
According to sources, as the schools reopen from the second week of June, parents have geared up and arranged finances to purchase school material from this month itself. From this academic session, the schools would reopen with full capacity for which advance purchase of school study material has become necessary.
According to reports, booksellers informed that this year, the prices of notebooks have spiked by about 50 percent. The register, which was sold for Rs 40 last year, is now available for Rs 60-65 depending on the quality of the paper. The most important raw material — paper — is now 40% more expensive as compared to last year. Paper mills cite a shortage of recyclable waste for this problem, said a bookseller, adding then add the cost of transportation to it. “Cost of production is up and so is the cost of transportation. These hikes will be passed on in the final product,” he said.
Other stationery items like pens, pencils, etc too will see price hikes. School uniforms too will weigh in on parents’ purse strings this year. According to a trader, cloth material cost has increased by 50% and this raw material is not available on credit anymore. Apart from this, labor costs have gone up in addition to transportation, he added.
