INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION WITH UNESCO
Cooperation between India is one of the founder members of the United Nations Educational,
India and Unesco Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which was established with
Headquarters in Paris in November, 1946. The Indian National Commission
performed its role not only as a coordinating agency at the national level but
also collaborated with the other National Commissions of Asia and the Pacif-
ic region and with Unesco's Regional Offices in New Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta,
Karachi and other places in fostering regional and sub-regional cooperation
and for bringing about better understanding of Unesco projects and activities
undertaken in the sub-region. The following account gives a brief resume of
the activities of the Commission undertaken during the period under review.
Ninth Regional Consultation Unesco Regional Office for Education in Asia and the Pacific organised
Meeting of the Asian programme the Ninth Regional Consultation meeting of the Asian Programme of Educa-
of Educational Innovation for tional Innovation for Development (APEID) from March 20-26, 1984, in
Development Bangkok for the purpose of reviewing the implementation of APEID's activi-
ties during the two years of the Third Cycle (1982-1983) and to make recom-
mendations of APEID's future activities.
The meeting was attended by the Education Secretary, Smt. Serla Gre-
wal. In her address to the meeting, she observed that APEID responded very
effectively to the national priorities under this multi-national programme and
that India strongly supports APEID. She made an announcement of India's
contribution of half a million rupees during the third cycle. The payment was
made during 1984.
National Development A National Development Group (NDG) has been constituted for coordi-
Group for APEID nating the programmes and activities of the Asian Programme of Educati-
onal Innovation for Development (APEID) in India. The Secretariat of NDG
is located in the National Council of Educational Research and Training, New
Delhi.
Two meetings of the National Development Group were organised on
March 12 and April 27, 1984, which, among other things, discussed propo-
sals regarding co-operative innovative projects and other significant activi-
ties to be included in the APEID work plan for 1984-86. A national meet of
the Programme Co-ordinators of the Associated Centres of APEID was
again held at the NCERT Campus on December 12-13, 1984. In addition to
the five Associated Centres already functioning in the country, eleven new
Associated Centres of APEID have also been designated for participation in
the programme.
Meeting of the Governing Board The 36th Session of the Governing Board of UNESCO Institute for Edu-
of Unesco Institute for Education cation was held at Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, from May 7-9,
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1984. India was represented at this meeting by Smt. Serla Grewal, Education
Secretary. The Government of India made voluntary contribution of an
amount equivalent to DM 25,000 to the Unesco Institute of Education.
Unesco Courier Meeting A meeting of the editors of all language editions of the Unesco Courier
was held at Paris from May 14-18,1984. Shri R.M. Tiwari, Editor of the Hindi
Edition and Shri M. Mohammed Mustafa, Editor, Tamil edition of the Courier,
attended the meeting from India.
Multilateral Consultation Shri Kireet Joshi, Special Secretary in this Ministry, participated in the
regarding Education for multilateral consultation regarding Education for International Understand-
International Understanding ing at Helsinki, Finland, from June 18-22, 1984. The consultation had been
organised to decide what practical steps could be taken to promote follow-
up action on the conclusions of the 1983 Inter-governmental Conference on
Education for International Understanding, Cooperation and Peace, and
education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms with a view
to developing a climate of opinion favourable to the strengthening of security
and disarmament, particularly in view of the Inter-governmental Youth Year
of Peace and to advise the Director-General of Unesco with a view to the pre-
paration of a plan for the development of Education for International Unders-
tanding, Cooperation and Peace.
Third World Congress of The Third World Congress of Unesco Clubs and Associations was con-
Unesco Clubs and Associations vened by the Japanese Federation of Unesco Associations at Tokyo, Japan,
from July 16-24, 1984. The objective of the Congress was to discuss the role
of Unesco Clubs and Associations in strengthening world peace and interna-
tional understanding. At the same time, it was the aim of the Congress to pro-
mote mutual understanding among the participants and members of Japa-
nese Unesco Associations in various regions of Japan through field study
programme. Dr. Vishwa Nath Khanna, Member, Indian National Commis-
sion for Unesco, was nominated to attend the Third World Congress as prin-
cipal delegate from India.
Eighth Regional Conference The Eighth Regional Conference of National Commissions for Unesco of
of National Commissions for Asia and the Pacific was convened in Manila from November 29 to Decem-
Unesco of Asia and the Pacific ber 4, 1984. The basic purpose of the Conference was to study problems of
Asian countries such as educational, scientific and cultural and to determine
what in the programme of Unesco can be carried out by its Asian Commis-
sions working together. The Indian National Commission for Unesco was
represented by Shri D.S. Misra, Joint Secretary in this Ministry.
Training Workshop in Cultural
Affairs Administration in Asia The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi, in collabora-
and the Pacific tion with the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco,
organised a Training Workshop in Cultural Affairs Administration in Asia
and the Pacific at New Delhi from November 26-30, 1984. One expert each
from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malayasia,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of
Korea, Thailand and three from India participated in the Training Workshop.
After detailed discussions, the participants made a few recommendations
about inclusion of cultural component in curriculum for schools, colleges and
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teacher education, designing specific training programmes for cultural
administrators.
Sub-Regional Symposium on The Unesco Division for Socio-Economic Analysis, Sector of Social and
Critical Analysis on Develop- Human Sciences, organised a sub-regional Symposium on Critical Analysis
ment Planning in Asia on Development Methods in Asia at New Delhi, in collaboration with the
Indian National Commission for Unesco alongwith the Planning Commis-
sion of the Government of India and the Institute of Economic Growth, New
Delhi, from November 27 to December 1, 1984. The symposium was attend-
ed by 24 participants and five observers from 8 countries viz., China, India,
Japan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka, besides
representatives of UNESCO.
Participation in Other In addition, the Indian National Commission nominated government offi-
Conferences, Meetings, etc. cials/experts for participation in about 33 international conferences, mee-
tings, symposia and seminars organised under the auspices of UNESCO.
Unesco Clubs Since the inception of the Unesco Clubs Movement, India has been evinc-
ing keen interest in it. After Japan, India is having the largest number of
Unesco Clubs in Asia. The activities of these clubs are aimed at dissemination
of information about the objectives and activities of Unesco, and to encour-
age programmes in the fields of education, science and culture to promote
international understanding, cooperation and world peace. The Commission
regularly supplies publications and other materials of interest to the clubs.
Unesco Coupons The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco continues
to operate the Unesco International Coupons Scheme designed to help edu-
cational and research institutions and also individuals working in the fields of
education, science and culture to import their bona fide requirements of edu-
cational publications, scientific equipments and educational films from
abroad without undergoing the foreign exchange and import control formali-
ties. The total sale of Unesco coupons during the year was about Rs. 5 lakhs.
Unesco Courier The Indian National Commission brings out Hindi and Tamil editions of
Unesco's monthly magazine 'COURIER, which is published in 25 other lan-
guages of the world. The Hindi edition is brought out by the Central Hindi
Directorate, New Delhi, and the Tamil edition by the Southern Languages
Book Trust, Madras. The magazine is one of the most outstanding educati-
onal and cultural publications of news and views.
Newsletter One of the important activities of the Commission is the publication of a
quarterly journal entitled 'Newsletter'. The journal contains information
about the activities undertaken by the Commission and Unesco in India.
Three thousand copies of the publication are circulated among National
Commissions of Unesco, Education Departments of States, universities and
other educational institutions. Since January, 1984, the bulletin is being pro-
duced both in Hindi and English editions.
Unesco Features Under contract with Unesco, the Indian National Commission brings out
Hindi and Urdu editions of Unesco's monthly magazine entitled 'UNESCO
FEATURES'. The editions are brought out by the Press Information Bureau
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of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Hindi version of the
Features is supplied to about 1000 Hindi Newspapers and periodicals all
over India. About 400 Urdu Newspapers all over the country get the Urdu
version of the Unesco Features.
Secretary-General's Report Report of the Secretary-General, Indian National Commission for Unesco
for the period from January 1982 to December, 1983 was brought out. The
report gives an account of the activities sponsored and undertaken by the
Commission during these two years, including reports on the contribution
made by Indian delegations in various major conferences. It also gives a brief
resume of the executive functions undertaken by the Commission during the
period.
Associated Schools Project The Indian National Commission has been participating in Unesco's
Associated Schools Project since its inception in 1953. The objective of the
project is to promote the general development of education for international
understanding through widespread network of institutions. At present, there
are 36 schools in the country associating with this project.
Participation Programme Under its Participation Programme, UNESCO authorises the Director-
General to participate in the activities of Member-States at National Level
and at the Sub-regional, regional or inter-regional level. The Participation
Programme enables Member countries to benefit from UNESCO's assis-
tance for activities undertaken on their own initiative within the fields speci-
fied by the General Conference with a view to attaining the objectives it has
laid down. Out of 20 projects submitted by India under the Participation Pro-
gramme for the 1984-85 biennium, 12 projects have been approved for
UNESCO assistance during the period. The total quantum of financial assis-
tance to be received from UNESCO for these projects would approximately
amount of US $ 132,000.
Strengthening the Activities of In order to enable the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with
the Indian National Commission Unesco to discharge its functions and responsibilities in an adequate manner,
for Cooperation with Unesco a plan scheme for strengthening the activities of the Commission with a total
outlay of Rs. 50 lakhs has been proposed to be included in the Seventh Five
Year Plan. Out of the total outlay, a provision of Rs. 10 lakhs has been includ-
ed in the Budget Estimates for 1985-86.
Besides, a provision of Rs. 90 lakhs has been proposed for the construc-
tion of Unesco House and Rs. 2.45 crores for the development of Auroville.
Grant-in-Aid to During the year, the Indian National Commission sanctioned a sum of
Voluntary Organisations Rs. 5,90,000/- as grant-in-aid to some voluntary organisations engaged in
spreading the message of Unesco and publication of Unesco Courier.
Executive Board Shri T.N. Kaul, India's respresentative on Unesco's Executive Board, parti-
of Unesco cipated in the 119th and 120th sessions of the Executive Board of Unesco
held during the year. Shri T.N. Kaul was nominated by the Executive Board of
Unesco as a member of the 13-member Termporary Committee of the Board
set up, after the United States' notice of withdrawal from Unesco, to review
the functioning of the Organisation and to suggest ways and means to
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improve its working. During the year, the Committee held two sessions. Both
these sessions were attended by Shri Kaul.
Contribution to Contribution to Unesco, Budget was fixed by the General Conference of
Unesco's Budget Unesco on the basis of UN Scale. Accordingly, India's share of contribution of
Unesco Budget for the biennium 1984-1985 is 0.36% of the overall Unesco
Budget. Contribution for the year 1984 amounting to US $ 620,460 (equival-
ent to Rs. 70 lakhs approximately) has been paid to Unesco.
Thirty-Ninth Session of the The International Bureau of Education organised the Thirty-Ninth Ses-
International Conference on sion of the International Conference on Education in Geneva from October
Education 16-25, 1984. In conjunction with this Conference, the Twenty-Fifth Session
of the Council of the IBE, of which India is an elected member, was also held.
The main items on the agenda of the international Conference on Education
were:
1) Education for all in the new scientific and technical environment and
taking into account disadvantaged groups;
2) The universalisation and renewal of primary education in the perspec-
tive of an appropriate introduction to science and technology.
The Indian delegation to this conference was led by Smt. Shiela Kaul,
Minister of State for Education and Culture. Other members of the delega-
tion were:
Smt. Serla Grewal, Education Secretary
Shri Y.N. Chaturvedi, Joint Secretary (Schools)
Shri Baldev Mahajan, Director(Unesco Unit)
Shri B. Balakrishnan, First Secretary(Pol)
Permanent Mission of India, Geneva.
The Conference also considered a draft recommendation concerning uni-
versalisation and renewal of primary education in the perspective of an
appropriate introduction to science and technology. The Indian delegation
proposed a number of amendments to the draft recommendation which were
accepted and incorporated in the final version of the Recommendation
adopted by the Conference.
Ninth Conference of The Ninth Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers was held at
Commonwealth Education Nicosia, Cyprus from July 23 to 28, 1984. The Indian delegation to this Con-
Ministers ference was led by Smt. Sheila Kaul, Minister of State for Education and Cul-
ture. The other members of the delegation were:
1. Shri Kireet Joshi, Special Secretary
Ministry of Education & Culture
2. Shri G.M. Jambholkar,
High Commissioner of India
Nicosia, Cyprus