CHAPTER XII
OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES

12.01. This chapter deals with several other programmes of. the Ministry, namely, (1) Social Education; (2) Gazetteers and Other Publications; (3) Libraries: (4) Clearing-House Programmes; (5) Copyright; (6) Displaced Students from Pakistan;, and (7) Mahatma Gandhi Birth Centenary.

A. SOCIAL (ADULT) EDUCATION

12.02. While the field programmes of social (adult) education are the responsibility of the State Governments and the Union Territory Administrations, the Ministry of Education provides assistance to a few programmes of a pioneering character or having national significance. An account of these is briefly given in the paras that follow.

12.03. Workers' Social Education Institute, Indore :

The Institute continued to provide educational facilities to industrial workers and their families at Indore. Its activities consisted mainly of conducting classes in English, Hindi, drawing, music and mahila handicrafts. A maintenance grant of Rs. 90,500 was given to the Institute through the Government of Madhya, Pradesh during the year.

12.04. Workers' Social Education Institute, Nagpur:

The Institute started functioning with effect from May 23, 1968 by starting adult literacy classes. The Governing Body of the Institute is, however, completing the preliminaries, viz., appointment of staff, purchase of equipment, etc., so as to start the Institute in full swing by the end of the financial year.

148

149

12.05. Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations:

Grants under the scheme are given to voluntary educational organisations for the development of activities in the field of social (adult) education (excluding libraries).

12.06. Kisan Saksharta Yojana (Farmers Education and Functional Literacy Project):

This scheme is part of the larger project of "Farmers Education and Functional Literacy" conducted jointly by the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, Education and Information and Broadcasting. It was initiated in selected districts in high-yielding varieties areas (one each in the three States of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Mysore) towards the close of 1967-68. The scheme is now being initiated in a selected district in each of the seven additional States, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and West Bengal. It is anticipated that about 23,400 adult farmers will be enrolled in literacy classes in these 10 districts. The States receive 100 per cent Central assistance for this scheme.

12.07. Prize Competition of Books for Neo-Literates :

During the year, the results of the 13th Prize Competition of Books for Neo-literates were announced: Eighteen books/ manuscripts were selected for a prize of Rs. 1,000 each. These included four in Hindi, two each in Assamese, Kannada, Tamil and Urdu and one each in Bengali, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi and Telugu. The Fourteenth Competition has been announced in November 1968. About 40 prizes of Rs. 1,000 each will be awarded to the authors of the best selected books/ manuscripts in the fourteen Indian languages, viz., Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri. Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The last date for submission of entries in this Competition is 31st May, 1969. During, the period, 1,500 copies each of 19 prize winning books for neo- literates were purchased for free distribution to social education centres, adult education centres and rural libraries through the State/Union Territory Governments.

150

12.08. Unesco Prize Competion of Books for New Reading Public:

Sixth Unesco Competition designated as the Unesco, Sponsored National Contest, for the Best Manuscripts for the New Reading Public and/or Children and Juveniles was held by the Ministry during the year. Nine manuscripts have been selected for a prize of Rs. 1,650 each. These include two each in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu and one each in Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. During the period, 1,500 copies each of 12 prizewinning books in various Indian languages under the Unesco Competition were purchased for free distribution.

12.09. Selection of books for the award of prizes under the two schemes given above is done by the Popular Literature Committee set up by the Ministry.

B.GAZETTEERS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS

12.10. Gazetteer of India :

The "Gazetteer of India" as the revised Imperial Gazetteer volumes are entitled, is to be published in four volumes. The first reprint edition of Volume I, 'Country and People', is now in the press. Some of the chapters of this volume such as 'The Religions of India', 'The Physiography of India', 'The Languages of India', etc. are being brought out in the form of booklets so that they may have a wider public circulation. The booklet on 'Physiography of India' has been published. Volume II, 'History and Culture', has been finally edited and is ready for the press. The work on the other two volumes, viz., Volume III, 'Economic Structure and Activities', and Volume IV, 'Administration and Public Welfare' is in progress. These two volumes will be published during the Fourth Five Year Plan. The translation of Volume I of the Gazetteer of India into Hindi will be taken up during 1969-70.

12.11 District Gazetteers :

Out of 330 and odd District Gazetteers, drafts of 136 have been completed and 69 have been published. The scheme will be completed during the Fourth

151

Five Year Plan. During the period under report, seven District Gazetteers were published, 21 Gazetteers are in the press and 28 more are expected to be sent to the press shortly. Drafts of 22 District Gazetteers will be ready for publication soon. It has been decided to transfer the scheme, 'Revision of District Gazetteers' to the State sector in the Fourth Plan.

12.12. Gazetteer of Bhutan :

The compilation of the Gazetteer of Bhutan has been taken up. The Advisory Committee for its compilation has finalised the chapter headings and the list of contributors. The volume is likely to be completed by the end of 1969-70.

12.13. Freedom Fighters Who's Who and Who's Who of Martyrs:

The work on 'Freedom Fighters Who's Who is mainly the responsibility of the State Governments and the Union Territories, and the Gazetteers Unit of the Ministry is acting as a guiding and coordinating body. The scheme has been completed in some of the States and Union Territories and efforts are being made by others to complete it soon. The publication of a booklet containing brief life sketches of those patriots who were hanged or killed during the country's struggle for freedom (1857-1947) has been taken up by the Gazetteers Unit of the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs,

12.14. Cultural Heritage Series:

The scheme for the com- pilation and publication of the Cultural Heritage Series in 27 volumes-one volume in respect of each State and Union Territory-has been included in the Fourth Five Year Plan. The volumes are designed to help in promoting the cause of national integration. The project will be completed by the end of Fourth Five Year Plan.

12.15. History of Freedom Movement:

Work on the third and last volume of the History of Freedom Movement in India was continued during the year. The volume covers the period 1905 to 1947 and the work involved study of thousands of records of the period located in the National Archives and

152

elsewhere, private papers of Indian leaders and British rulers and contemporary journals and newspapers. The private papers of Lord Minto and Gokhale were minutely studied and a chapter on Morley-Minto Reforms has been drafted. Chapters on the Declining Role of the British Imperialism, Development of Muslim Thought, especially with reference to Iqbal, Maulana Azad and the Deoband School, have been prepared. Other studies related to the political ideas of B. C. Pal, Aurbindo Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore and Tilak, Non-Cooperation and Khilafat movements, constitutional developments and the transfer of power. The draft of the volume is expected to be ready by the end of 1969.

C. LIBRARIES

12.16. The Government of India maintain or assist some libraries of all-India importance. The Central Secretariat Library, functioning as a part of the Ministry of Education, caters to the needs of all Ministries and Departments and also carries out useful documentation of educational and other literature. An account of the activities of the Ministry in the field is given in the paragraphs that follow.

12.17. National Library, Calcutta:

(a) A Review Committee was set up in May, 1968 to review the working of the National Library and to suggest measures for its efficient functioning and future devleopment. The Committee has had six sessions so far and is expected to submit its report shortly.

(b) The total number of books received under the Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Act, 1954 were 15,542. Of these,. 11,155 were in Indian and the rest in European and Afro-Asian languages, Besides, 11,000 maps were received under the provisions of the Act. The Library received, during the year, 9,057 items through gift and exchange; As a depository of the agencies of the United Nations. and of several foreign Governments, 5,632 items were received. The total holdings of the Library have gradually been increasing and now exceed 13 lakh

153

publications The total number of accessions during the period was 23,320.

(c) More than 2 lakh persons visited the Reading Room during the period. 3,492 new members were enrolled and 3,242 tickets were issued to casual readers. Readers used 61,944 volumes in the Reading Room. The Circulation Division registered 958 new borrowers who deposited more than Rs. 50,000 as security. A total number of 52,042 volumes were lent to the borrowers for use at home. The Circulation Division also arranged for microfilming 8,157 pages on request from individuals and institutions. The Stack Division handled about 2,30,000 requisitions for books. It also organised readers services in the Annexe and at the Esplanade Reading Room.

(d) 159 bibliographies containing 10,405 entries were compiled. Of these, 106 with 8,937 entries were in European languages and the rest were based on materials in Indian languages. It is proposed to start a Bibliography and Documentation Series with the following eight tentatively approved titles : (1) Central Asia; (2) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee; (3) Education in India; (4) Foreign Travellers in India; (5) Goa; (6) Indian Philosophy, (7) Library Science in India; and (8) Soviet Literature in Indian Language Translations. Work relating to items 3, 6 and 7 has already begun.

(e) The compilation of the Gandhi Centenary Bibliography was taken over by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. The Library compiled 3,121 entries for the Nidhi's Bibliography.

(f) The following exhibitions were organised during the period: (1) Maxim Gorky Birth Centenary Exhibition; (2) Freedom from Hunger Exhibition; (3) L. N. Bezbarua Birth Centenary Exhibition; (4) Current Indian Literature (1966-68) Exhibition to mark the National Library Week; and (5) Exhibition of the Publications of the Sahitya, Akademi. An attempt was made to focus on the importance of the Indian language publications on the occasions of the National Library Week.

154

12.18. Central Reference Library, Calcutta :

The Library continued to publish the Indian National Bibliography on. monthly basis.

12.19. Delhi Public Library, Delhi:

(a) Delhi Public Library consists of a central library, 4 branch libraries, 8 community libraries (sub-branches), 16 deposit stations, and 4 mobile library vans visiting 54 stations once a week. Among its special services, mention may be made of a gramophone record library, a Braille library for the blind, a library for prisoners in the Central Jail, Tihar, and two hospital libraries.

(b) During the period, 16,280 volumes were added to the library up to September 30, 1968 raising the book-stock to 4,09,161 out of which 2,39,665 were in Hindi, 86,906 in English, 56,648 in Urdu, 24,766 in Punjabi and 1,176 in Sindhi.

(c) The registered membership of the library stood at 1,41,243 of which 58.4 per cent were adults and 41.6 per cent children. The total number of books issued up to 30th September, 1968 was 11,46,126 against 11,36,193 issued during the same period last year. During the period, about 44,728 adults and 11,811 children participated in the activities organised by the library such as lectures, discussions, dramas, film shows. television viewings, etc.

12.20. Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna:

The Khuda Banksh Oriental Public Library Bill, 1968, which was introduced on 21st February, 1968 to declare the Library as an institution of national importance, could not be taken up for consideration even during the last session of Parliament. Apart from the Central assistance of Rs. 1,38,000, the Library is in receipt of assistance from the Government of Bihar of Rs. 50,000 per year.

12.21. Central Library, Bombay :

This is a recipient Library under the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954. The pattern of assistance to the Maharashtra Government to be provided during the Fourth Plan for the administration of the Act has been decided and communi-

155

cated to the State Government. Central assistance will include non- recurring grant for constructing additional accommodation at 2/3rds of the actual expenditure but not exceeding Rs. 5 lakh and recurring grants will meet 50 per cent of the additional recurring expenditure over and above the level of expenditure in 1960-61.

12.22. T.M.S.S. Mahal Library, Thanjavur and Raza Library, Rampur:

A committee of experts has recommended that the T.M.S.S. Mahal Library, Thanjavur, may be declared as an institution of national importance. Necessary provision has, therefore, been proposed for the development of the Library on, modem and scientific lines in the same way as the Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna. The proposals for the development of Raza Library, Rampur, as an institution of national importance are being examined in the light of the recommendations of the Committee of Experts and in consultation with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

12.23. Central Secretariat Library:

During the year the Library shifted to its new premises in Shastri Bhavan, from, North Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi. The Library provides reference and lending facilities to the Government employees and caters to the official needs of the Government, their ministries/departments/attached 'and subordinate offices situated in Delhi. The following statistics broadly indicate the volume: of work done during the period under report: 

        
             New Membership                          2,556
        
             Total Membership                       13,024
        
             Accessions
        
             Books                                   2,527
        
             Serial documents                       50,793
        
             Non-serial documents                    6,795
        
             Periodical titles                         764
        
        
             Total issues                        12,10,260
        
             Bibliographies compiled                    25
        
        
             Publications   (1) Additions List
        
                            (2)  Indian Education Abstracts (Quarterly)
        
                            (3)  Current Education Literature (Quarterly)

156

12.24. Grants to Public Libraries:

Under the scheme of financial assistance to voluntary educational organisations, grants-in-aid are given to public libraries for their development. The grants-in-aid are given on a sharing basis. The Central Government's share is 60% of the approved estimated expenditure on the purchase of books, equipment and furniture, and is 40 per cent of the total estimated expenditure on the construction of buildings or Rs. 30,000 whichever is less.

D. CLEARING-HOUSE PROGRAMMES

12.25. Information Unit:

(a) During the year, the Infor- mation Unit of the Ministry attended to about 8,000 enquiries seeking information on facilities for different courses in India land abroad. The Information Library attached to the Unit was developed and equipped with the latest informative literature in the form of prospectuses, syllabi, calendars, handbooks, annual reports, etc. relating to educational institutions in India and abroad. The Students' Advisory Bureaux/Employment Information and Guidance Bureaux attached to various universities were supplied with the latest informative material on educational centres in this country and abroad.

(b) Four issues of the quarterly journal, "Educational Faci- lities in India and Abroad" and two issues of the six-monthly "Bulletin on Educational Development in States and Union Territories" were brought out during the year. Material on the courses of study in India and abroad in important topics was collected and compiled for the use of students, parents and educational organisations in the country and abroad.

(c) The Fourth National Seminar of the Representatives of Students' Advisory Bureaux was held on January 27-31, 1969 at Madurai 22 representatives from 11 universities and 4 State Governments 'attended the seminar.

12.26. Statistical Unit:

(a) The Unit continued to discharge its primary function of collecting, consolidating and interpreting the educational data. While the collection of statistics from

157

States and, universities pertaining to 1964-65 was; completed, that for 1965-66 and 1966-67 was in progress. Efforts to bring down the time-lag in the publication of educational statistics were maintained. The up-to-date Selected Statistics relating to 1967-68 were brought out and work on the main' statistical publications, viz., Education in India-(Vol. I & II) was completed up to 1964-65.