SOCIAL EDUCATION
National Fundamental Education Centre At the beginning of the year the training course for the second batch of District Social Education Organisers was being conducted at the National Fundamental Education Centre. As all the necessary Staff has been recruited and equipment secured, the Centre 'could make 'considerable progress in the year 1959.
The strength of the academic staff of the Centre during the year 1959 was nine. Besides, there were two foreign experts and three Research Fellows.
The strength of the ministerial staff and Class IV staff was 31.
Training Course The training course for the second batch of DSEO's, which was started on 17th November, 1958, continued, up to 17th April, 1959. This batch consisted of 22 trainees from different States.
The training course for the third batch of DSEO's was started on 15th June, 1959, and concluded on 14th November, 1959. This batch of trainees consisted of 1-7 district officers in charge of Social Education from different States.
A complete coverage of all the subjects in the syllabus was attempted in each training course. In addition to the lectures on the contents of the syllabus the trainees did individual work consisting of reading writing and other assignments. Group work, Group Discussions, Semimars, Demonstrations and visits for observations were also arranged. Supporting field work and practicals were organized by taking the trainees to nearby villages and for study tours to the Community Development Blocks in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
T.C.M. Aid (a) The Technical Co-operation Mission of United States had al- ready supplied equipment worth $14,608.98 in the year 1958. In 1959 the total equipment received. from the TCM so far is worth $21,825.50. In addition to this, the TCM continued the services of Dr. Homar Kampfer, Expert in Adult Education.
(b) Under the TCM programme of Participant's Training, Shri H. P. Saksena, Assistant Director, went to USA on 9th September, 1959.
67
68
He is at present undergoing training in Research Procedures in the University of Cornell, Ithaca (USA)
Library The Library of the Centre, which had 1,970 books at the beginning of the year, extended considerably. It has now 3650 books. In addi- tion to this, several Indian and foreign journals on subjects connected with social education are being subscribed to.
Research Work at the Centre The research project on 'Village Meeting Places' completed in 1958 was got printed and copies have been distributed to persons and organisations interested in such research. The second research project on "Village Meeting Places and Community Centres in Mehrauli Block" has also been completed. Investigations on the third research project on 'Reading Habits and Interests of the Village People' in village Mukhmelpur in Alipur Block has also been completed and the data is now being analysed.
Audio-Visual Unit The Audio-Visual Unit set up for production of better type of material and equipment for Social' Education, produced a filmstrip 'How to make a flannelgraph'. A second filmstrip has been taken up. The silkscreen press of the Unit has now been,started. A television set has been given to the National Fundamental Education Centre by the All-India Radio for evaluation of the programme. A tele-club has been formed at the Centre and reports are being sent regularly to the All- India Radio authorities.
Medical Unit The Medical Unit under the Doctor-cum-Health Instructor provided medical aid to the trainees living in the hostel. It also held demonstrations in health education and rural sanitation in the villages visited by the trainees as a part of the training course.
Clearing House Activities With a view to supplying information to the DSEO's who have received training at the centre and to other persons and organisations engaged in Social Education work, 28 cyclostyled notes were prepared and distributed. A cyclostyled NFEC Bulletin has been started and its first issue was distributed to DSEO's and other 'persons and organisations interested, in Social Education. Instructors of Social Education Organisers' Training Centre continued visiting the National Fundamental Education Centre for studying the training programme and the techniques of field work. Grantees of fellowships of Interntional organisations and
69
visitors from foreign countries came to the Centre for observation and study. In the year 1959, 36 visitors form ten countries visited the Centre.
Instructors and students from Social Education Organiser's Training Centres, Home Extension Wings and Rural Institutes came to the National Fundamental Education Centre for study of its work and discussion of social education programmes.
During the period January-March 1960 a training course of five months for the fourth batch of district officers in charge of Social Education of the State Governments will be started.
Outlines of Programme for 1960-61 In this year the National Fundamental Education Centre will conduct two training courses, each of 5 months duration, for the district officers in charge of social Education. It will take up additional research projects and also, engage in production of literature. Clearing house activities will be continued on a larger scale.
Financial Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations in the
Field of Social Education, including Library Development The provision for this scheme stands at Rs. 3 lakhs. Out of this Rs. 1,37,337 has been sanctioned so far to 7 Institutions. The balance is expected to be sanctioned to other Institutions during the remaining part of this financial year. For 1960-61 a budget provision of Rs. 3 lakhs has been made for this scheme.
Grants under Minister's Discretionary Fund ocGrants amounting to Rs. 40,000 were sanctioned to four institutions during the year 1959 for development of their libraries and social education.
Institute for Training of Librarians The first three-months refresher course with 13 trainees from various States started in March, 1959, in this institute. A one-year diploma course commenced on 18th July, 1959, and nine trainees from different Rates are attending the course.
Evening Institute for Workers' Education An Advisory Board has been set up to run the Institute, with the Labour Commissioner for Madhya Pradesh as Chairman. It has representatives of the Central Ministries of Education and of Labour and Employment,
70
representatives of State Departments of Labour Education (Madhya Pradesh), representatives of employers and workers, and representatives of other Social Welfare Organizations. All executive powers will be vested in a small Committee of this Board consisting of the Chairman, the representatives of the Central Ministries of Education, and Labour and Employment, the 'representatives of the' Labour and Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, and two persons nominated from among the other members of the Board and the, Warden. The first meeting of die Board was held on 24th and 25th December, 1959. The Institute is expected to start, functioning, shortly.
Research into Syllabus, Textbooks and Supplementary Reading
Material for Adult Schools The Research, Training and, 'Production Centre of Jamia Millia continued the scheme of Research into the syllabus, textbooks and supplementary material for Adult Schools.
The experimental adult schools set up, during the last year are, running, satisfactorily. Achievement tests to the students of different grades were given and those qualified were promoted to the next grade. During this year, the evaluation and gradation of supplementary reading, material for various grades of Adult Schools has been in progress.
Originally the estimated expenditure on the scheme was Rs. 2,73 330/But now it has been sealed down to Rs. 2,18,588/-. Out of this, Rs. 1,20,000/- have been released to the jamia Millia so far. This scheme Will come to close in June, 1960.
Preparation of Eight Graded Books for neo-literates The Hindustani Culture Society Allahabad, which had been assigned the job of preparing eight graded books for neo-literates, have submitted the manuscripts of the first four books of, the series. These will be examined by a committee of experts before they are printed.
Production of Literature for Social Education Workers Under the scheme 'of Production of Literature for Social Education Workers, the Ministry prepared through the agency of Idara- Talim-O-Taraqqi, New Delhi, and Planning, Research and Action Institute, Lucknow, the following three handbooks:-
1. Teaching adults to read and write.
2. An annotated bibliography of Hindi and Urdu dramas.
3. Rural recreation.
Copies of these books were distributed to State Governments, Ministry of Community Development & Co-operation and prominent organisations and workers in the field of Social Education.
71
Unesco Fellowships for Training in Denmark Under their Technical Assistance' Programme for 1959, Unesco offered four Fellowships in Adult Education Training Course in Den- mark, held during August-September, 1959. For this course four Indian Fellows were selected and sent for training. Two of these were from Mysore State and one each from Bombay and West Bengal.
Library Expert under Colombo Plan The services of a library expert were procured under the Colombo, Plan during 1958. She remained here titll May, 1959. During her period of assignment she visited various States and gave valuable advice in matters of library development.
Gyan Sarovar- A Popular Encyclopaedia in Hindi Out of the five volumes of Hindi Encyclopaedia-popularly known as Gyan Sarovar, two volumes have already been published. The manu- scripts of the remaining three volumes are nearing completion.
Vishwa Bharati The publication of the other Hindi Encyclopaedia in Hindi Bharati' has also made rapid progress during the current year. Volumes III, IV and V, of 10,000 copies each, have been published. It is expected that Volume VI may also come out very soon.
National Book Trust of India A sum of Rs. 1.50 lakhs was sanctioned to the National Book Trust during the current financial year for carrying out its activites. It is proposed to translate some well-known books into various India Languages and publish them, in, the near future. These include 'Kalki' (original in English by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan), 'To-day and To- morrow' (original being Azad Memorial Lectures , of Sri Jawahar Lal Nehru) and 'Aspects of Science' (original in English by Dr. C. V. Raman).
Unesco Prize Scheme of Books for New Reading Public During the current year, ten prizes of $480 (Rupees, 2280/- app.) were announced by the Government of India, in co-operation with Unesco,. for being awarded to Indian authors of the best books in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Urdu for the New Reading Public published during 1957-58. The Popular Literature Committee adjudged six books as deserving of the prizes which were announced on 2nd October, 1959. Steps are being taken to purchase 1500 copies each of the 6 prize- winning books.
Basic and Cultural Literature In co-operation with the Ministry of Community Development and Co-operation, the Ministry of Education announced the award of prizes
72
of Rs. 1,000/- each to the selected authors of best manuscripts on ten selected topics. This is the first competition of its kind. A similar set of prizes under this scheme will be awarded in 1966-61.
National Seminar for Printers and Publishers In their Statement of Activities for the year 1959, Unesco offered a sum of $2,000 for organising a Seminar for Printers, Publishers and book-sellers. Accepting this offer the Ministry of Education organised a National Seminar for Printers, Publishers and Book-sellers at Kishan Chand Chella Ram College, Bombay, for a period of seven days from 10th to 16th November, 1959. Four papers were discussed by experts on 'Printing Trade in India', 'Book Production Problems', 'General BOA Publishing Industry in India' and 'Book- Selling. The entire expenditure towards the Seminar was met by Unesco.
Unesco Regional Workshop on Book Distribution, Promotion and Market
Research The Government of India acted as host to the Unesco Regional Workshop on Book Distribution, Promotion and Market Research, at Madras, for a period of three weeks, from 30th November, 1959, to 19th December, 1959. , The Southern Languages Book Trust co-operated with the Government of India in organising the Seminar. Four to six delegates each from Burma, Ceylon, Iran, India and Pakistan participated. The Workshop was held at Hotel Oceanic, Madras. The expenditure for the workshop was met by Unesco. As host country, the Government,of India were required to provide for certain items like transportation within the country, facilities for office accommodation, documentation etc. A grant of Rs. 10,500 was sanctioned to Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras, who co-operated in the organisation of the Workshop.
Popular Books on Important Subjects A prize of Rs. 5,000 has been announced to Dr. H. R. 'Ghosal, of Bihar University, for his manuscript entitled 'The History of India'. Steps are afoot to bring out the manuscript in Hindi and later on in some of the regional languages.
Prize Scheme for Books for Neo-Literates Out of the 40 books/manuscripts which were selected under the fifth Competition for a Prize (if Rs. 500 each in 1958, five in various Indian languages were selected for an additional award of Rs. 500 each.
1500 copies each of the 40 books/manuscripts which were awarded prizes on 2nd October, 1959 under the Vth Competition for books for neo-literates were either purchased or are in the process of 'being purchased.
73
30 prices of Rs. 500/- each, under the VIth Competition for books for neo-literates, were also, announced on 2nd October, 1959. Further competition for the award of five additional prizes of Rs. 500/- each is being held among the above noted 30 books and manuscripts. Its result will be declared on 26th January, 1960.
(uniform)
Rules of entry for the VIIth, Competition (to be announced shortly) have also been framed.
Steps are also being taken to reconstitute the Popular Literature Committee, The Prize scheme will be continued in 1960-61.
Purchase of Social Education Literature in Hindi Under the Ministry's scheme for the- purchase of Social Education literature in Hindi, 56 books have been selected this year for purchase by the State Governments. This Ministry will pay 50 per cent. of the cost, along with transportaion charges, of the selected, books required by the various State Governments, the other 50 per cent. of the cost being met by the State Government themselves.