Visitors from Abroad 16.21.0 Dr. Yogesh Atal, Regional Adviser for Social and Human Sciences, Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific visited New Delhi on May 26-27, 1988, and had meetings with the Education Secretary and with Prof. Iqbal Narain, Member Secretary, Indian Council of Social Science Research.
- Dr. Zharov, Director, Division of Scientific Research and Higher Education, Science Sector, Unesco, Paris visited New Delhi from September 17 22, 1988 to discuss matters concerning the International Institute for Science and Technology. Among others, Dr. Zharov had a meeting with Shri Baldev Mahajan, formerly, Secretary, Indian National Commission and discussed Major Programme II relating to science and technology to be included in the outline of Third Medium Term Plan of Unesco and other matters of mutual interest.
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- Shri N. Kasi, Programme Specialist, Division of Studies and Dissemination of Culture visited New Delhi from July 28-31, 1988. During his stay, besides other appointments, he had a meeting with the then Secretary of the Indian National Commission.
- Shri T. Keller, Assistant Director-General for the General Programmes and Programme Support Sector visited New Delhi from August 16-17, 1988. He had a meeting with the Education Secretary on August 16, 1988 and discussed matters of mutual interest.
- Shri S.M. Saifuddin, Secretary, Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco visited New Delhi from August 30 to September 4, 1988. On September 1, 1988 he called on Shri S. Gopalan, Additional Secretary, Department of Education and also met the officers of the Indian National Commission.
- Prof. John Crocket Smyth, visited India from September 22-26, 1988 in connection with the evaluation of International Environmental Education Programme under Unesco-UNEP Programme 1984-1988. During his stay in India he had meetings with the high officials concerned with environmental education programme 'in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jawaharlal Nehru University, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, National Council of Educational Research and Training and Directorate of Adult Education, etc. and had discussions on various subjects including aspects of implementation of this programme in India.
- Mr. Federico Mayor, Director-General of Unesco and other senior officials from Unesco paid a visit to India from 13-16 December, 1988. It was Mr. Mayor's first visit to this country as Director-General. During his stay, he called upon the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Human Resource Development.
Contribution to Unesco's Budget 16.22.0 Contribution of each Member-State of Unesco to the budget of the organisation is determined in accordance with a scale fixed by the General Conference. India's share of the contribution has been fixed by the 24th Session of the General Conference of Unesco at 0.34 per cent of its overall budget. For the year 1988 India contributed Rs. 1,16,37,000/- in Indian rupees.
Executive Board of Unesco 16.23.0 The 129th and 130th Sessions of the Executive Board of Unesco were held in Paris during the year. Sardar Swaran Singh, India's member of the Executive Board, attended these meetings.
The World Heritage Committee 16.24.1 In pursuance of the provisions of the Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, Unesco has constituted the World Heritage Committee to identify those natural and cultural sites which merit inclusion in the World Heritage list and to administer World Heritage Fund. It comprises twenty-one Member-States. India was elected a member of this Committee at the 23rd Session of the General Conference of Unesco held in 1985.
16.24.2 Following thirteen Cultural monuments and four natural sites from India have so far been included in the World Heritage List.
MONUMENTS 1. Taj Mahal.
2. Ajanta Caves.
3. Ellora Caves.
4. Agra Fort.
5. Sun Temple at Konark.
6. Monuments of Mahaballipuram.
7. Churches and Convents of Goa.
8. Group of Monuments of Khajuraho.
9. Group of Monuments at Hampi.
10. Group of Monuments at Fatehpur Sikri.
11. Group of Monuments at Pattadkul.
12. Elephanta Caves.
13. Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur.
NATURAL SITES 1. Kaziranga National Park.
2. Keoladeo National Park.
3. Manas Wild Life Sanctuary.
4. Sunderbans National Park.
16.24.3 With a view to popularizing the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the Convention got it translated in Hindi and printed bilingually for dissemination.
World Decade for Cultural Development 1988-1997 16.25.1 The results of the first two International Development Decades since the end of the Second World War revealed limitations of a development concept based primarily on quantitative and material
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growth. In order to, emphasise the cultural dimension of development, the World Conference on Cultural Policies (1982) proposed a World Decade of Cultural Development. The proposal was approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 1986. The Decade begins in 1988 and will end in 1997.
16.25.2 The twin objectives of the Decade are; greater emphasis on the cultural dimensions in the development process, and the stimulation of the creative skills and cultural life in general. Unesco has sent to Member States a detailed Plan of Action for the observance of the Decade. India was elected to the Inter-Governmental Committee for the World Decade for Cultural Development at the 24th Session of the General Conference of Unesco held in 1987. The Committee comprises 36 members.
16.25.3 A working group has been formed in the Department of Culture to make necessary arrangements and programmes for the celebration of the Decade.
Auroville 16.26.1 With a view to making long-term arrangements for proper management and further development of Auroville, both Houses of Parliament passed the Auroville Foundation Bill (Act 54 of 1988) in September, 1988. The Act provides for acquisition and transfer of the undertaking of Auroville and to vest these undertakings in a Foundation established for the purpose. The proposed Foundation shall consist of (a) the Governing Board, (b) the Residents Assembly, and (c) the Auroville International Advisory Council.
16.26.2 The Act also provides for financial assistance by the Central Government for the Development etc. of Auroville.
16.26.3 A scheme for all round development of Auroville has been included in the Seventh Five Year Plan with a total outlay of Rs. 35.55 lakhs. The scheme reflects three important concerns: (i) need for continuing education commencing from earliest stages of childhood; (ii) need for synthesis of knowledge and culture; and (iii) need to provide a stable base for all round development of Auroville and surrounding villages. For the year 1988-89 a budgetary provision of Rs. 10 lakhs has been made under the scheme.
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