Financial assistance to persons distinguished in letters, arts and such other walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances, and their dependents

The scheme provides financial assistance to persons distinguished in letters, arts etc. who may be in indigent circumstances and their dependents. Under the scheme a grant of upto Rs. 200/- per month is given to persons who are above 58 years and whose monthly income is below Rs.400/- per month. Under the scheme 1/3rd expenditure is shared by State Governments. In case of Union Territories and in exceptional cases the entire expenditure is borne by the Government of India. At present 444 persons are receiving monthly allowance under the scheme.

The Department of Culture has various schemes to provide assistance to artists from building talent at the School level to provision of old age pensions when the artists are no longer able to earn their own living. These schemes, which virtually cover the life span, are :

Cultural Talent Search Scholarships Scheme

This is a plan scheme under which facilities are provided to outstanding young children of the age-group of 10-14 years, studying in recognised schools, to develop their talents in various cultural fields, namely, traditional forms of Indian dances, music, and theatre as well as painting and sculpture. Up to hundred scholarships are awarded every year out of which 25 are reserved for children belonging to `Gharanas' and `Sampradayas'. The

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scholarships are granted on, an year to year basis till the completion of secondary stage of education by the awardess or upto the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier. The value of a scholarship is Rs. 600 per annum but where the child is required to shift to a new station for purpose of specialised training in the approved fields, the value is increased to Rs. 1,200 per annum. In both these cases, the actual fee paid for the specialised training is reimbursed to scholarship holder. 114 scholarships were awarded during the year, and 24 more were under consideration. The scheme for the award of scholarships for 1978 has been announced and State Governments have been asked to recommend candidates.

Scholarships for Young Workers in Different Cultural Fields

Under the scheme, 50 scholarships are awarded every year to young artists of outstanding promise in the age-group of 1828 years for advanced training within India in the fields of Hindustani music, Karnatak music, Western classical music, classical forms of Indian dances, traditional theatre, drama, painting and sculpture. The value of a scholarship is Rs. 300 p.m. and the duration is for two years. In exceptional cases the scholarship is extended by another year. 50 scholarships were awarded under this scheme during 1977. Applications received in response to advertisement for award of 50 scholarships for 1978 are being scrutinised.

Fellowships to Outstanding Artists in the Fields of the Performing, the Literary and the Plastic Arts

The scheme provides basic financial support for either very advanced training or individual creative effort for outstanding men in the fields of the Literary, the plastic and the performing arts in the age group roughly 25-60 years. Under the scheme, 16 fellowship of Rs. 500/- p.m. each are awarded each year tenable for two years.

Propagation of Culture among College and School Students

The objective of the scheme is to expose the students in our schools and colleges, the teachers and the teacher educators to the rich and diverse cultural heritage of our country so that they may grasp the inherent unity underlying the diversity of our cultural forms. The scheme has three parts viz., (i) organising of refresher courses for teachers drawn from secondary schools and colleges in different parts of the country: (ii) production of

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educational kits; and (ii) acquainting the student community with artistic heritage of India as an integral part of Indian culture.

During the period under report, 7 orientation courses were organised for the teachers and teacher-educators at Patiala, Chan- digarh, Udaipur, Goa, Indore, Coimbatore and Madras. About 300 teachers attended these courses. About 200 kits are proposed to be produced during the period.

C. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

During the period under report, the following important pro- grammes, were undertaken in connection with the celebration of the birth centenaries of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, Iqbal, Anand, K. Coomaraswamy, and 500th Anniversary of the birth of Poet Surdas.

National Seminar on Sarat Chanrda Chatterjee

As a part of the birth centenary celebrations of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, the Great Novelist, a national Seminar on Sarat Chandra was organised by the Sahitya Akademi at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, on the 27th and 28th August, 1977. On this occasion, the National Library, Calcutta also organised an exhibition of Sarat Chandra's works in original and translations at the Lalit Kala Akademi Gallery.

International Seminar on Iqbal

As a part of the birth centenary celebrations of Mohd. Iqbal, the great poet and philosopher, an International Seminar was organised at Vigyan Bhavan from 30th October, 1977 to 2nd November, 1977. The Seminar was preceded by an Indo-Pak Mushaira on 29th October, 1977. The Mushaira which was participated in by eminent poets from Pakistan and India was inaugurated by Shri M.M. Beg, Chief Justice of India. The International Seminar was inaugurated by Shri Umashankar Joshi, eminent poet and scholar from Gujarat, on 30th October, 1977 when an Album on Iqbal was released by Shri L.K. Advani, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

The Seminar was organised by the All India Iqbal Centenary Celebrations Committee, which had been, set up as a Registered Society on non-official initiative under the Chairmanship of Shri I. K. Gujaral, Ambassador of India in Moscow, with assistance from the Government of India in the Department of Culture.

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Besides scholars from various parts of India, it was attended by about 20 scholars from foreign. countries like Czechoslovakia, Egypt, FRG, Iran, Pakistan, USSR and UK

On the occasion of the Iqbal Seminar a Photo Exhibition on Iqbal's life was also organised at Vigyan Bhavan by DAVP, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, also an exhibition of paintings by Ameena Devi from 30th October to 2nd November, 1977.

Seminar on Coomaraswamy

As a part of the Birth centenary celebrations of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, a Seminar on Coomaraswamy was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 29th and 30th December, 1977. The Seminar was organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi with financial assistance from the Department of Culture. In addition to Indian participants, scholars from Sri Lanka and Thailand also participated in the Seminar.

500th Anniversary of Poet Surdas

The 500th Anniversary of the birth of Mahakavi Surdas falls in May, 1978 and it has been decided to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.

A Sur Panchshati Co-ordination Committee has been set up in the Department of Culture under the Chairmanship of Dr. P. C. Chunder, Union Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture, to finalise and co-ordinate programmes for the celebrations. Mrs. Renuka Devi Barkataki, Minister of State for Education, Social Welfare and Culture is the Working Chairman. Other members included in the Committee are S/Shri Nawab Singh Chauhan and Dharam Vir Vashist, Members of Parliament, Dr. Nagendra, Professor of Hindi, University of Delhi, and concerned senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Social Welfare and Culture.

The Co-ordination Committee has so far held two meetings and has recommended various programmes befitting the occasion.

D. GAZETTEERS

District Gazetteers

Under the scheme for the Revision of District Gazetters the drafts of 270 district gazetteers have been completed so far of which 260 has been approved for publication.

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Gazetteer of India

Out of the proposed four volumes of the Gazetteer of India, Volume-I-Country and People, Volume-II-History and Culture and Volume- III-Economic Structure and Activities have been published. Volume-IV Administration and Public Welfare, the last volume in the series, is under print. It is expected to be published very shortly. As all the copies of Volume I were sold out, its reprint was brought out. Some of the chapters of this volume such as People, Languages and Physiography which have a wider public appeal, were also brought out separately in the form of booklets.

Revision of State Gazetteers

It was decided to publish one State Gazetteer for each State. The State Gazetteers are intended to replace the Provincial Gazetteers brought out during the British period.

Supplements to District Gazetteers

The Supplements to District Gazetteers will update some of the material particularly economic data in the District Gazetteers which have become outdated. The Supplements will be brought out in respect of those District Gazetteers which were published 10 years back. The drafts of three supplements have been completed and approved for publication so far.

Who's Who of Indian Martyrs

The project of Who's who of Indian Martyrs was completed and all its three volumes were published.

E. CULTURAL AGREEMENTS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES AND BILATERAL CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Cultural Agreements

A Cultural Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Thailand was signed on the 29th April, 1977 in New Delhi. The Agreement was signed by Shri K. N. Channa, the then Secretary, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare on behalf of the Government of India and by H.E. Dr. Suchati Chuthasmit. Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Planipotentiary of Thailand on behalf of the Government of Thailand.

An Agreement on Cultural Co-operation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Sri Lanka was signed on the 29th November, 1977 in New

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Delhi. The Agreement was signed by Dr. P. C. Chunder, Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture on behalf of the Government of India and by H.E. Mr. E. L. B. Hurulle, Minister for Cultural Affairs on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.

These Cultural Agreements envisage strengthening of relations with the concerned countries in the fields of Art and Culture, Education including academic activity in the fields of science and technology, sports, mass-media of information, public health, etc. The Cultural Agreements pave the way for regular Cultural Exchange Programmes between India and the concerned countries comprising exchanges of visits of professors, writers, artists, grant of scholarships for higher studies, exchange of books, publications, art exhibitions, etc.

Cultural Exchange Programmes

The following Cultural Exchange Programmes were finalized during the year :-

(1) The Indo-Yugoslav Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1977, 1978 and 1979 was signed on the 22nd January, 1977 in New Delhi.

(2) The Indo-FRG Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1978 and 1979 was signed on the 26th May, 1977 at Bonn.

(3) The Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1978 and 1979 was signed on the 24th June, 1977 at Paris.

Grants-in-aid to Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies Working Abroad

Under the scheme for grant-in-aid to foreign cultural societies, grants-in-aid are sanctioned to Indo-Foreign Friendship/Cultural Societies actively functioning in the foreign countries with the object of fostering closer friendship, and cultural contacts between India and the concerned foreign country. The maximum amount of grant sanctioned to any such society does not ordinarily exceed Rs. 7,500/-. During 1977-78, this Department sanctioned grants to 76 societies amounting to Rs. 2,47,000/- approximately. This grant is paid through our Missions abroad.

Presentation of Books to Foreign Countries

Under the scheme for Presentation of Books abroad, this Department sanctioned a grant of As. 2.00 lakhs to the Indian

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Council for Cultural Relations which administers this scheme on behalf of the Department of Culture. The purpose of the scheme is to disseminate knowledge of Indian art, culture, literature, civi- lization, philosophy to libraries, learned bodies and in suitable cases to individual scholars abroad of selected books on these subjects by Indian authors. The selection, purchase and distribution of books is done on the recommendations of the Book Selection Com- mittee set-up by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The Book Selection Committee comprise :-

(i) Secretary, Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

(ii) A representative of the Department of Culture.

(iii) A representative of the External Affairs Ministry ( XP Division ).

(iv) The University of Delhi.

(v) Sahitya Akademi.

While selecting books and their allocation to the Societies etc. the Book Selection Committee considers the proposals received from the Indian Missions abroad. As far as possible efforts are made to present books under this Scheme to Societies etc. in a maximum number of countries, priority being accorded to proposals from countries where due to historical and geographical factors facts about Indian art, culture, history and civilization are comparatively unknown or known in a distorted image. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations sent books to universities and institutions in Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Burma, Brazil, Bhutan, Chile, FDR, Guinea, Ghana, Guyana, Hongkong, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Qatar, Rumania, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Sweden, Tanzania, Trinidad, Tunisia, USA, USSR, UAE, Venezuela, Yemen and Zambia during 1977-78.

Essay Competition

Under the scheme of Essay Competition, this Department gives an annual grant not exceeding Rs. 50,000/- to Indian Council for Cultural Relations for holding essay competitions. During 1977-78, certain items of handicrafts, books and Lalit Kala Publications were dispatched to Peru, Zambia, Chile, Bhutan, Madagascar, Somalia, Italy, ARE, Japan, Sudan, Tunisia and Syria to be given away as prizes to the winners of Essay Competitions organised in these countries through the respective Indian Missions.

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Ratification by India of the Unesco, Convention (i) Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and (ii) Recommendation Concerning the Protection at National Level of the Cultural and Natural Heritage

The General Conference of Unesco, at its Seventeenth Session held in Paris in 1972, considered the question of protection of the cultural heritage and the natural heritage which were threatened with destruction not only by the traditional causes of decay but also by the changing social and economic conditions. The General Conference accordingly adopted the following international instruments :-

(i) Convention concerning the protection at national level of the cultural and natural heritage.

(ii) Recommendation concerning the protection of world cultural and natural heritage.

The provisions of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heri- tage and the recommendations concerning thereto are almost identical in character except that the for- mer are mandatory in nature; whereas the latter give to the Member States the option to implement them to the extent considered feasible by each State, depending upon its national laws and conditions.

The Convention envisages that States would take effective and active measures for the protection, conservation and preservation of the Natural and Cultural Heritage, on their territory and recognise that such heritage constitutes a World Heritage for whose protection it is the duty of the international community as a whole to cooperate. The States would, through education and information programmes, encourage appreciation of Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The Convention also contemplates the creation of a World Heritage Fund. The Fund shall constitute a Trust Fund, in conformity with the provisions of financial regulations of UNESCO. This will consist of contributions made by the States parties to the Convention, contribution by UNESCO and other organisations, public or private bodies and individuals etc. Countries which undertake to make compulsory contributions will make payments which will be determined by the General Assembly of States.

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Parties to the Convention. Keeping in view India's contribution to the regular budget of Unesco, the Contribution of India towards this Fund will be about $ 1600 for two years beginning from 1977-78.

The Cultural Heritage broadly includes monuments, groups of buildings, sites; while Natural Heritage has been defined under three broad heads, namely natural features; geological and physiographical formations and natural sites.