MaPS conducts its first general meet in Mumbai

Managed Print Services Association of India (MaPS) recently conducted its first general meet on July 20 in Mumbai. The meet was attended by 20 members, where the announcement of the new team for 2012-13 was being made. It has elected four members for the team including K Madhusudan of Indrayani Sales as president and convener; Sanjeev Gupta of Color Copi has been elected as VP; and Srikant Chari of NVK as treasurer. Apart from office bearers, it has also appointed eight executive members as part of the team. Presently, the association has 20 members, who are in the trade of re-manufacturers and managed print service providers. The association will add 100 more members in the next 1 month and plans to have 500 members till its AGM in March 2013.

During the meet several points were discussed in detailed before the members. The association has specified its role and functions. Moreover, it has framed code of conduct for the members for following fair business practice. It will be handling dispute among members. The other critical role of the MaPS is to seek support from government in recognizing manufacturing industry as reliable and most environment-friendly industry.

Speaking to The DQ Week Madhusudan said, "Today our industry is creating opportunities for self employment and can become an important component to the economy. But the irony is government treats us as roadside shopkeepers. Hence, our association wants to get the status and respect from industry. We will be putting all our efforts to create awareness and make this industry organized. Already we are in talks with other large associations like FICCI and seeking their support and talking to government and environment ministry for allowing our industry to prosper."

The association will be setting technical standards for re-manufacturing and open an institute where it can train technical staff of its members. It will be handling environmental issues and government regulations to be followed/standard to be adopted. Another blockade of this industry is disparity in taxes; the association will be lobbying for Uniform State Taxation/Indirect /Direct taxation representation and tapping Government sector opportunities.

The association has also classified its members and membership fee. For Life Members the entry fees will be Rs 50,000 and annual subscription will be Rs 15,000. For annual members (refillers, re-manufactures and traders), the fee will be charged at Rs 10,000 and annual fee will be Rs 5,000, and for suppliers and importers it will charge an entry fee of Rs 1,00,000 and annual fee of Rs 25,000. It will be interacting with everybody in the trade all over India for membership shortly.

"We are planning to enroll at least 500 members to start with. Lastly, the association is seeking support from OEM's, as the survival of this industry is dependent on OEMs; so we want them to be a part of this association to co-exist together," concluded Madhusudan.