Indian Council of Historical Research

In fulfilment of its objectives the Council has been taking steps for promoting researches in the field of history. These included sanction of research projects, fellowships, study grants, publication subsidies and aids of similar kinds, undertaking the work of compiling such source material as would facilitate historical research, organising and sponsoring seminars for the utilisation of historical knowledge, sponsoring historical research programmes and assisting institutions and organisations engaged in historical research.

During the period April to November 1979 the Council sanctioned 12 research projects, 23 fellowships, 60 study/travel contingent grants (including two grants to visit foreign countries), 13 subsidies for publication and aid to eight professional organisations of historians. In addition, extension was accorded to three on-going research projects and five on-going fellowships. Work on the three volumes of sources was completed, while that on other volumes is in progress. One old book and three volumes of a collection of thematic articles were reprinted while a number of other old books were being processed for reprinting. Under the programme 'Production of Core Books' 31 translations of core books on Indian history and culture into six languages were received and steps were being taken to process them for publication. Six translations were published during the period. The collection of material for the volumes relating to projects on 'Towards Freedom' and 'Praja Mandal Movement' is continuing. The work of editing the volumes prepared under the project 'Role of the State Legislatures in the Freedom Struggle' also continued and one such volume, 'Orissa Legislature and its Freedom Struggle : 1912-47', was published. The council sponsored two seminars-one on 'Socio-economic History of Western India with Special Reference to Gujarat and Maharashtra during the Last Four Centuries' at Ahmedabad and the other on 'Socio-economic History of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh during the Medieval and Modern Periods' at Udaipur. The eighth issue of the Council's Journal 'Indian Historical Review' was brought out.

National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi

The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration was set up mainly to improve the educational planning and administrative services in the country. Towards the achievement of this objective, it organises training courses, seminars,

workshops and conferences of senior education officers at the Centre and in the States, conducts research and studies, provides on request, consultancy services, collaborates with the national and international agencies and acts as a clearing house of information in the field of educational planning and administration.

The Institute organised (i) a seminar on Contribution of Education to New international Order from 22-27 January, 1979 in collaboration with the International Institute for Educational Planning Paris and Unesco Regional Office for Education in Asia and Oceania, Bangkok, which was attended by 21 delegates, (ii) a, five-day Training Seminar on Statistics of Literacy Programmes from 6-10 February, 1979 in collaboration with the Directorate of Adult Education, (iii) the second Contact Programme of the First Correspondence Course in Educational Planning and Management (1978-79) from February 27-March 3, 1979, which was attended by 40 participants, (iv) a Seminar on Educational Supervision for District Education Officers of Haryana from February 19-25, 1979 which was attended by 25 participants, (v) A six-day orientation programme in educational Planning and administration for Senior Education Officers of School Education Department of the State from March 5-10, 1979 in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, which was attended by 24 participants and four observers, (vi) a pre-departure orientation programme for a select group of College Principals proceeding to the U.S.A. under the USEFI's Administrator's Project 1979 from March 20-22, 1979 which was availed of by seven Principals, (vii) National Training Seminar for Senior Level Personnel of Adult Education from April 16 to 21, 1979, in collaboration with the Directorate of Adult Education, (viii) three- day Conference on promotion of Teaching, Research and Extension in Educational Planning and Administration in the Universities from April 30 to May 2, 1979, (ix) a training Seminar in Educational Planning and Administration for Probationers of UP Education Service from June 4 to 16, 1979, (x) a Seminar in School Management for Principals of Secondary Schools, from June 11 to 16, 1979 in consultation with the Central Board of Secondary Education and the British Council which was attended by 19 principals, (xi) an Orientation Seminar for Key Level Personnel in Adult Education in collaboration with the Directorate of Adult Education from July 9 to 14, 1979, (xii) an Orientation Pro- gramme for Principals of Higher Secondary Schools of Jammu and Kashmir, with a view to acquainting them with the challenges of the new pattern of education from July 15 to 28, 1979, (xiii) A UNICEF- sponsored National Workshop to develop

training of District and Block Level Education Officers in the Administration of elementary education from August 6 to 10, 1979 which was attended by 33 officers from. Directorate of Education and Key Personnel of State Institutes of Education/ State Councils of Educational Research and Training of 14 States and three Union Territories, (xiv) A UNICEF-sponsored training Programme to prepare resource persons for the Training of District Education Officers in the Administration of Elementary Education from August 16 to 22, 1979, (xv) an Orientation Programme for District Adult Education Officers in collaboration with the Directorate of Adult Education from August 20 to 25, 1979, (xvi) a Seminar on Some Aspects of Administration of Higher Education from September 10 to 12, 1979 which was attended by 14 college principals, (xvii) an Orientation programme for School principals proceeding to the U.K. from September 15 to 18, 1979, (xviii) a six-day orientation course for university Registrars from September 17 to 22, 1979 collaboration with the University Grants Commission, (xix) an Orientation Programme for the District Adult Education Officers from September 17 to 22, 1979 in collaboration with the Directorate of Adult Education, (xx) a series of Orientation Pro- grammes in Educational. Planning and Administration of three week's duration for principals of Women's Colleges in consultation with the University Grants Commission and (xxi) an Orientation Programme for District Adult Education Officers from November 21 to 26, 1979 in collaboration with the Directorate of Adult Education.

In pursuance of the decisions taken at the 18th Session of the General Conference of Unesco, the Institute organised a Regional Workshop on Goals and Theories of Education in, Asia from January 15 to 21, 1980 with a view to providing a Forum for achieving more clarity about the complex task of interrelationship between belief and value systems, educational goals and theories, the decision making and policy formulation process in education and the reality of educational development. Eleven delegates from ten countries attended the Workshop.

D. BILATERAL/FOREIGN COLLABORATION PROGRAMMES

Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi

Ten fellows/language trainees came to India during 1979-80 to conduct research in humanities or to study Indian languages under the fellowship programme, of the Institute Under

summer programme of the Institute for 1979, a group of 17 Canadian university students and high school teachers came to India during July-August 1979 for six weeks.

Indo-USSR Cultural Exchange Programme

Forty-five Russian teachers were assigned to various Indian universities/institutions during 1979-80 for teaching Russian language and literature.

Berkeley Professional Studies Programme in India

Under this programme, the University of California at Berkeley deputes its students for study/internship in professional fields in Indian institutions. During 1979-80, 11 students/ scholars came for study/internship in the fields of medicine, law, engineering, textiles, architecture, agriculture, and health.

American Institute of Indian Studies, New Delhi

The American Institute of Indian Studies was established in 1962 to encourage research in India in the field of humanities and social sciences by pre-doctoral, doctoral and post-doctoral scholars in American universities. The institute awarded fellowships (faculty/junior/ad-hoc/short-term and language) to 157 during the academic year 1979-80 for doing research in various fields of Indian studies.

United States Educational Foundation in India, New Delhi

Fifty-eight American scholars/students came to India during 1979- 80 for pre-doctoral, doctoral and post-doctoral research tinder the Foundation's auspices and also on assignment as visiting professors. Similarly, 108 Indian scholars proceeded to the USA during 1979 for teaching and research work in universities and colleges in the in the USA under various programmes of the Foundation and East-West Centre, Hawaii.

Under the short term Group Educational Programmes of the US Universities/Colleges two academic groups consisting of 20-30 members each, including professors, teachers and educational administrators from the USA came to India for periods ranging from 2-3 months to acquaint themselves with the latest developments in the field of education, life and culture in India. These group programmes are organised in close collaboration with and under the supervision of Indian universities. During 1979-80, two such groups came to India for periods ranging 2-3 months.

American Studies Research Centre, Hyderabad

The Centre extends facilities to Indian scholars and students of American studies. It has been permitted to allow scholars from neighbouring Asian countries also to avail of these facilities at the Centre provided the US held rupee funds in India are not utilised for the purposes.

German Academic Exchange Service

During the year under report four scholars from Federal Republic of Germany came to India for post-doctoral research in social services.

E. OTHER ACTIVITIES

Revision of Scales of Pay of University and College Teachers

On the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, the Government of India, had approved a scheme of revision of scales of pay of university and college teachers with effect from January 1, 1973 and decided to offer financial assistance to the State Governments to the extent of 80 per cent of the additional expenditure involved in giving effect to the revised scales. The Governments of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have already implemented the revised scales recommended by the Central Government. The Governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka, have sanctioned these scales for university teachers only. The Government of M.P. had introduced certain modified scales from 1-1-73 but are presently considering the possibility of introducing the UGC scales from 1-1-78. The proposals of the Governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and M.P. for sanctioning Central assistance are under consideration. The proposals of the Government of Kerala did not conform to the Central scheme and were not accepted.

During 1978-79, a sum of Rs. 15 crores was released to the State Governments for implementation of the scheme. According to the provisions of the scheme, the Central Government is to provide assistance to State Governments for the additional expenditure involved upto March 31, 1979 only. No further liability accrues to the Central Government beyond that date. However, on account of the delay in the finalisation of the scheme by several State Governments, fend also because most of the State Governments have not been able to claim the Central'

assistance in full before the terminal date for the scheme, provision is being made in the budget to meet the residual claims of the States and disburse Central assistance which has Already been committed.

Special cell for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes

: The Special Cell for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes which had been set up in January, 1977 in the University and Higher Education Division of the Ministry in pursuance of the recommendation of the Committee on the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes contained in its 42nd Report, continued to function under the control of Director/Deputy Secretary in charge of Universities and Higher Education Division. This Cell functions in close cooperation with the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Cell in the University Grants Commission which started functioning from January, 1979. This Cell. received 30 complaints/representations from individuals and others alleging discriminatory treatment towards members belonging to SC/STs. Most of these complaints etc. pertained to Universities/colleges under the administrative jurisdiction of the State Governments. These were accordingly sent to the concerned State Governments requesting them to look into the complaints and initiate suitable remedial action for removing grievances of the concerned per- sons.

One of the important functions of the Cell is to collect data/material in respect of representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in posts and services in the Universities and Colleges in the country, and to make it Available to the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for inclusion in his Annual Report. This data is collected by the University Grants Commission and transmitted to the Ministry. During the year under report, the Commission furnished the data in respect of 44 Universities, 6 institutions deemed to be Universities and 1,792 Colleges. The data which has so far been collected is being processed for further action by the try.

During the year, the Cell also processed the recommendations contained in the 55th Report of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and forwarded to the Lok Sabha Secretariat a statement showing the action taken in respect of nine recommendations contained in this Report. This leaves only two recommendations of the Committee which are under examination of Government in consultation with the University Grants Commission.