---------- Forwarded message --------- From: M S Sridhar <mirlesridhar@gmail.com> Date: Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 11:28 AM Subject: ONOS ONOS Press meet The Government of India has approved ‘One nation one subscription’ and had a press meet to justify the scheme. Watched the video of the press meet on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/live/OwPhBngJkgk?si=QQXh9zMHXN1XHLsp). The first impression is that knowingly thousands of crores are going to be wasted. 1. It is well established that an average researcher/ scientist regularly uses/ reads 5-15 journals. In case of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research, a specialist collaborates with other specialists and not himself tries to become a specialist in other disciplines. 2. In the existing consortia model (about a dozen in the country) large parts of thousands of journals have remained unused by the majority. Yet publishers got benefit and substantially increased their profit margin. It is important to note that publishers never allowed for the ‘pay per use’ model, which is the most rational and economical method of incurring cost for online journals. Thus providing access to all journals to all users is a waste and providing access is wrongly equated with ‘use’. 3. Now ONOS is increasing access from 8079 Journals to 13400 Journals and thereby increasing more unused journals by enabling publishers to further increase their profit margins. 4. ONOS is also increasing the reach, that is, providing access to 6380 institutions from the existing 2360 and to 177.82 lakh users from the existing 56.7 lakh. Have they ascertained the requirements of these additional institutions and individuals? Trying to provide access to disinterested institutions and users by doubling the cost from 1000 crores to 2000 crores per year is a criminal waste of taxpayer’s money. 5. Without ascertaining the present expenditure on APC, allocating meagre 150 crores per year (almost one-third of this budget is being spent by a single major institution) will not serve the purpose of promoting Open Access. This country needs at least another 1000 crores per year towards APC. If 1000 crores is allocated for APC, the total expenditure is going to be tripled. If APC budget is not increased, selected institutions and individuals of influence will get APC grants that to for so called undefined “selected good quality open access journals” without any justice to the majority. In nutshell, what was running in a decentralised way according to the local requirements at Rs.1000 crores per annum is centralised at a cost of Rs. 2000 to 3000 crores per annum with three year locking period of assured subscription to publishers. M S Sridhar —————