CHAPTER IX INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION WITH UNESCO
India has been a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation since its inception in 1946. Article VII of the Constitution of UNESCO requires that "each-Member State shall make arrangements as suit its particular conditions for purposes of associating its principal bodies interested in educational, scientific and cultural matters with the work of the organization preferably by the formation of a National Commission broadly representative of the Government and such bodies" and further provides that "National Commissions or National Cooperating bodies, where they exist, shall act in an advisory capacity to their Governments in matters relating to the Organisation and shall function as agencies of liaison in all matters of interest to it". Accordingly, an interim Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO was set up, in 1949, and a permanent Commission was established in 1951. Since then the working of the Commission has been reviewed from time to time. It has been reconstituted in February, 1978.
The functions of the Commission are : to promote understanding of the objects and purposes of Unesco among the people of the Republic of India : to serve as a liaison agency between the Government of India and the institutions concerned, with the working for the advancement of education, science and culture; and to advise the Government of India on matters relating to Unesco. During the year under review the Commission actively cooperated with Unesco in its efforts to promote international understanding and world peace through education, science, culture and communication.
UNESCO Clubs As a part of its efforts to disseminate and promote information among people about the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco has been promoting Unesco Club Movement in the country. Apart from disseminating information about the aims and policies of the United Nations, Unesco and other Specialised
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Agencies of the World Organizations, it is one of the functions of these clubs to develop activities in. the field of education, science and culture and to promote international understanding, co-operation in World peace, e.g. observance of UN Day, Human Rights Day, Unesco Week etc. organization or participation in exhibitions of Unesco Publications, symposia, seminars, lecture programmes, UN/UNESCO Workshops etc. There are 131 Unesco clubs functioning throughout the country. A majority of these clubs are located in University and public libraries.
The Commission has been sending regularly publications and periodicals and other material received from Unesco or brought out by the Commission itself to all the Unesco Clubs.
UNESCO Coupons The Commission continued to operate the Unesco International Coupons Scheme designed to assist Institutions and individuals working in the fields of Education, science, culture and communication on payment in Indian rupees. Coupons worth Rupees sixteen lakhs approximately were sold during 1977-78.
UNESCO Courier The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco continued to get the Hindi and Tamil editions of The Unesco Courier published through the Central Hindi Directorate and, the Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras, respectively.
Newsletter The Commission brings out a quarterly "Newsletter" to publicise information about the activities of the Commission and Unesco in India.
Visit of Director General, UNESCO to India In response to an invitation from the Government of India, Mr. Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow, Director-General of Unesco accompanied by Mrs. M'Bow paid an official visit to India from the 14th to 22nd May 1977. During his visit be called on the President and the Prime Minister and held discussions with the Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the Minister of Steel and Mines. He also had discussions with scientists and technologists
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besides addressing a meeting of intellectuals and members of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
Visit of Education Minister to GDR, Poland and USSR In response to invitations from the Governments of the German Democratic Republic, Poland and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Education Minister paid goodwill visits to these countries during the period from 9th to 16th September, 1977. While in the German Democratic Republic, Education Minister held discussions with H.E. Mrs. M. Honecker, Minister for National Education, Mr. Hans-Joachim Hoffmann, Minister of Culture, Mr. Kurt Loeffler, Secretary of State in the Ministry of culture and Mr. Manfred Evald, President of National Olympic Committee. During the meetings, the Education Minister of India and the Minister from the German Democratic Republic reiterated the friendship between the two countries and undertook to promote closer relations between the two countries through cultural exchanges.
While in Poland, he held discussions with the Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Tejchma, Deputy Prime Minister and others. During the discussions, the desire of the two countries to achieve new understanding through cultural exchange programme was reiterated. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland mentioned that Poland strived for detente in the international sphere. Education Minister of India mentioned that India had traditionally followed a policy of non- alignment. In the USSR, the Education Minister inaugurated the Indo- Soviet Cultural Festival at the Bolshoi Theatre. He held discussions with H.E. the Prime Minister of USSR, H.E. Mr. P. Demichev, Minister for Higher and Secondary Specialised Education. During these discussions the Education Minister stressed the friendship between India and USSR and referred to the assurance by India's Prime Minister that friendship between India and USSR would continue as before and changes, if any, would be only to further strengthen these cordial relations. It was agreed that the cultural relations between the two countries would be further strengthened through implementation of cultural exchange programme.
International Conference on Education The International Conference on Education was held at Geneva from 30th August to 8th September, 1977. Educational Minister who led the Indian delegation was unanimously elected to preside over the Conference.
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Executive Board of UNESCO India continued to be a member of the Executive Board of Unesco and the Indian member Dr. Gopal participated in the 102nd and 103rd session held at Paris in April-May and September, 1977.
Contribution to UNESCO India's contribution to Unesco for the biennium 1977-78 amounted to Rs. 1,36,18,000 representing 0.65% of Unesco's Budget for 1977-78. Out of this, an amount of Rs. 78 lakhs have already been paid and the balance will be paid before the close of the financial year.
Deputation/Delegation Abroad As in previous years, delegations were sent for participation in the various international Conferences.
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