The Finance and Education ministries have put together a plan to merge Kanooni Kitab Khana, Mudran Bibhag and Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra (JSSK) as a single government publication institution.

Presenting the plan to the Education subcommittee of Parliament on Thursday, Education Secretary Bishwo Prakash Pandit said it was necessary to merge the three houses for their sustenance and effective operation. All the three printers are struggling to function effectively.

Pandit said that Kitab Khana does not have enough work after the government allowed the Notary Public to translate and attest official documents while Mudran Bibhag publishes only the Nepal Gazette and the budget book. The JSSK has been printing school textbooks and question papers for School Leaving Certificate exams.

Pandit said the move would cut on the state’s financial liability. “It is desirable to bring all the three entities under one roof, as none of the three has been working effectively,” he told lawmakers.

According to Finance Secretary Suman Prasad Sharma, merger was the only option. He added that a security press could be installed in the new entity for the publication of confidential documents.

All the three publication houses struggle to survive. The government has already decided to sell the property of JSSK to repay its loan to the Citizen Investment Trust, Rastriya Banijya Bank and Bank of Kathmandu. It has more than Rs 1.2 billion in debt while it pays Rs 120 million in interests annually.