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3. Prof. S.K. Khanna Secretary University Grants Commission

4. Shri S. L. Kaushal, Director Ministry of Education & Culture

5. Shri Baldev Mahajan, Director Ministry of Education & Culture

The Indian delegation actively participated in the deliberations of the Conference both during plenary meetings as well as meetings of the working groups constituted to discuss the main themes of the agenda.

The Conference focussed attention on three main subjects: resources for education and their cost effective use; education and youth unemployment; and student mobility and the proposed Commonwealth Higher Education Programme of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The leader of the Indian dele- gation in her address reiterated the proposition that education ties are vital to the Commonwealth link. She drew the attention of the Ministers to the decla- ration made by the Commonwealth Heads of Government, at their meeting held at New Delhi in 1983, which affirmed the importance of Common- wealth student mobility and educational inter-change both to the national development efforts of member countries and the maintenance of Common- wealth links.

At the conference a number of countries announced the institution of edu- cational awards under the Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship plan at a pledging ceremony. India also agreed to increase the number of awards under the plan in fulfilment of the commitment made at the Conference, Government of India has decided to increase the number of awards currently being made to various Commonwealth countries from 50 to 75 per annum. The Indian delegation expressed deep concern towards recent introduction of differential fees by a few countries of the Commonwealth. The Conference asked all members who charge higher fees from Commonwealth than non- Commonwealth students to review their practices.

        
                    Scheme of Development                 The Ministry of Education constituted a Visiting Committee in order to
                    of Auroville                   examine the development scheme of Auroville submitted by the Executive
                                                     Council of Auroville to the Ministry.
        
                                                         The Committee visited Auroville on August 4 and 5, 1984, and discussed
                                                     in depth the proposed development scheme with the Executive Council of
                                                     Auroville.  The scheme of development of Auroville reflects three important
                                                     concerns (i) the need for continuing education, commencing from earliest
                                                     stages of childhood; (ii) the need for synthesis of knowledge and cultures; and
                                                     (iii) the need to provide a stable economic base for Auroville and surrounding
                                                     villages.  The following seven programmes, out of 11 programmes submitted
                                                     to the visiting committee, have been included in the scheme:
        
                                                          1. Centre for Child Development
                                                                                         

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2. Centre for Indian Studies - (i) Hall of Culture, and (ii) Hall of History

3. Centre for Audio-visual Educational Materials

4. Centre for Development of Physical Education

5. Centre for Evolutionary Studies

6. Centre for Urban Development

7. Community Facilities and Services

The scheme which has been recommended by the Committee for inclu- sion in the Seventh Five Year Plan 1985-1990, envisages a total outlay of Rs. 2.45 crores.

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