 INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR
 COOPERATION WITH UNESCO

India has been a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 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 respective delegations to the General Conference and to their Governments in matters relating to the organization and shall function as agencies of 'liaison in all matters of interest to it". Accordingly, a permanent Commission was established in 1951. The Commission discharges its functions through the four Sub-Commissions on Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities and Culture and Communication. Its present membership is 62.

Unesco Clubs

With a view to disseminating and promoting information among people about United Nations and its specialised agencies, the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco has been encouraging Unesco Club Movement in the country. It is also a function of these clubs to develop activities in the field of education, science and culture and to promote international understanding, cooperation in world peace, e.g. observance of UN Day, Human Rights Day, Unesco Week, etc.. organization of or participation in exhibitions of Unesco publications, symposia, seminars, lecture programmes, UN/ Unesco workshops etc. At present there are 133 Unesco, Clubs functioning throughout the country. Majority of these Clubs is located in Universities and public libraries.

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Unesco Coupons

The Commission continued to operate the Unesco International Coupon Scheme designed to help educational and research institutions and also individuals working in the fields of education, science and culture to import their bonafide requirements of educational publications, scientific equipments and educational films from abroad without undergoing the foreign exchange and import control formalities.

Coupons worth Rs. 11 lakhs approximately are 'likely to be sold during 1979-80.

Unesco Courier

The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco continues 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. The present number of each language issue is 3,000 copies.

The Commission brings out a quarterly "Newsletter" to publicise information about the activities of the Commission and Unesco in India. In all, 3,000 copies are printed and are distributed among National Commissions abroad, Education Department of States, universities and other educational institutions including Unesco associated schools in the country and abroad.

Contribution to Unesco,

India's contribution to Unesco's budget has increased from 65 per cent for 1977-78 to 67 per cent for 1979-80. India's total share of contribution to Unesco budget for the biennium 1979-80 is $ 1,945,680 ($ 972,840 for 1979 and $ 972,840 for 1980). The contribution for 1979 has already been paid and against the contribution for 1980, a sum of Rs. 12 lakhs (equivalent $ 150,000) has also been paid. The remaining share will be released during the current financial year in January-February, 1980.

Sixth Regional Consultative Committee

India in collaboration with Unesco, hosted the 6th Regional Consultative Committee meeting of APEID (Programme for Educational Innovation for Development) in April 1979 at Bangalore.

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Unesco Expert Meeting on Diplomas, Degrees etc. in Higher Education in Asia

India hosted a Unesco Expert meeting to advise the, Director- General, Unesco in the preparation of the preliminary draft Convention on Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia from 12-16 November, 1979. Representatives from eighteen countries of Asia and Oceania region participated in this Meeting.

Deputations/Delegations Abroad

Seventeen delegations were sent for participation in the various International Conferences, Regional Seminars, Meetings etc. so far.

Under the various contracts with Unesco, following semi- nars/meetings etc. were held:-

        
                                          
        
            Seminar/Meeting etc.             Organised/Conducted by
        
                                          
        
        1. Zuter Regional Seminar          Central Groundwater Board 
          on Groundwater in Hard 
          Ground Rocks, Coimbatore
        
        2. 6th Regional Consult-           Government    of    India    
          ative meeting of APEID,
          Bangalore 
        
        3. Meeting of Experts to           Association of Indian Univer-
          advise on preparation of         sities.
          Preliminary draft conve-
          ntion in recognition of 
          Studies,  Diplomas  and De-
          grees in Higher Education 
          in Asia, New Delhi
        
        4. A Regional Training Work-       Department of adult education.
          shop on Literacy, Udaipur
        
        5. National Seminar on 'Edu-       The Administrative Staff College,
          cation and Job Market',          Hyderabad.
          Hyderabad
        
        6. Meeting of Experts on the       National Centre for the Performing  
        Regional Consultation on the       Arts, Bombay
        Research  on  the  Impact of 
        Mass Media on Cultural Values 
        in Asia, Bombay.

INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION WITH UNESCO