During 1987-88 the budget provision for the scheme was enhanced to Rs. 5000 lakhs. It is proposed to support 134 projects for engineering colleges and 121 projects for polytechnics during 1987-88.
National Technical Manpower The scheme of NTMIS was instituted in the year 1983-84 with the Information System (NTMIS) objective of providing up-to-date and meaningful manpower projections on a continuing basis to enable the concerned educational authorities to plan the areas of growth in the field of engineering and technology on a systematic basis to meet the technical manpower requirements in the country. The system comprises a lead centre at the Institute of Applied Manpower Research, 21 nodal centres at selected engineering colleges/ technological institutions/Boards of Apprenticeship Training and a man- power cell in the Ministry. The system has made notable progress in the collection of data on technical manpower.
The scheme had a budget provision of Rs. 41.00 lakhs during 1987-88.
The scheme was started in the year 1981-82 with the main objective Advanced Technician Courses of providing avenues for advancement to diploma holders. Under this scheme, higher courses of studies at advanced level are provided to enable technicians possessing diploma qualifications in various branches of engineering and technology to acquire higher qualifications in their specialisations and advance professionally. The quality of the pass-outs of these courses has been very well appreciated by the industrial sector. The scheme is at present being implemented through the following 10 institutions :-
1. YMCA Institute of Engineering, Faridabad
2. CM, Kothari Technological Institute, Madras
61
3. SBM Polytechnic, Bombay
4. Institute of Engineering & Rural Technology, Allahabad
5. JC Ghosh Polytechnic, Calcutta
6. Kamla Nehru Polytechnic for Women, Hyderabad
7. KG Engineering Institute, Bishnupur (WB)
8. Government Polytechnic, Khurai
9. Khaitan Polytechnic, Jaipur
10. Government Polytechnic, Porbandar
The Scheme had a budget provision of Rs. 32.00 lakhs during
1987-88.
Centres for Development of Rural The scheme was instituted during 1980-81. The 15 CDRTs estab-
Technology (CDRTs) lished at various diploma level institutions are doing exceedingly well in
developing, modifying and adopting technologies relevant to rural needs.
Community Polytechnics The Scheme was instituted under the central sector in the year 1978-79,
when 36 polytechnics were selected to serve as 'community polytechnics',
In addition to offering diploma courses in various branches of engineering
and technology, these polytechnics are required to interact with the envi-
ronment and serve as focal points to promote transfer of technology to rural needs.
rural areas. The activities undertaken by these polytechnics include short-
term skill training, in various trades/vocations to the rural youth, provision
of technical and support services to the rural people, transfer, installation
and maintenance of relevant items of appropriate technology already
developed, tested and adopted, establishment of information and dissemina-
tion centres and undertaking experimental model projects for rural develop-
ment with application of science and technology. During 1984-85,
10 polytechnics situated in close proximity to predominantly minority
concentrated areas were approved as community polytechnics to impart
skill training to the youth from among the minority communities. At
present there are in all 108 community polytechnics working under the
scheme. In -order to assess its utility, the scheme has been appraised
during the year under report. Based on this appraisal, the scheme will
be further strengthened and expanded to improve its quality and coverage.
The budget provision for the scheme for the year 1987-88 was
Rs. 130.00 lakhs.
Programme of Apprenticeship The Programme of Apprenticeship Training for engineering graduates
Training and diploma holders under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (amended in 1973)
continued to be implemented through the four Boards of Apprenticeship.
Training located at Kanpur, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. The-Boards
have State-level Committees for better liaison with industry. The cost
of stipend being paid to apprentices is shared by the training establishments
and the Government of India.
The number of apprentices engaged every yea; as on 31st October for
the last three years is shown below :
upto 31-10-86 31-10-87
31-10-85
Total trainees 12761 16362 17352
Graduate trainees 3986 4653 4557
Diploma holders 8775 11704 12685
Scheduled Castes 429 242 450
Scheduled Tribes 44 65 80
Minorities 756 767 1208
Handicapped 7 9 2
Women 712 927 1138
62
A number of supervisory development programmes foe improving the
quality of apprenticeship training and career guidance programmes for the
final year students of a few engineering colleges and polytechnics were
organised by the Boards. The Boards are publishing journals containing
informative articles. Some of them have prepared training manuals.
In order to make the scheme of practical training to vocational students
a permanent feature and create a separate category of Technician (Voca-
tional) Apprentices the Apprentices Act has been amended with the
passing of Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 1986. The Bill inter-alia
provides for apprenticeship training to 10+2 vocational students in various
training establishments for a period of one year. The Technician
(Vocational) Apprentices will be paid a stipend of Rs. 400 per month,
50 per cent of which will be reimbursed by the Government of India.
The budget provision of the scheme for the year 1987-88 was
Rs. 476.00 lakhs.
Experimental Pilot Projects for This is a new scheme included in the 7th Five Year Plan, The Scheme
Application of Science & Technology is intended to facilitate selected community polytechnics and/or other
to Total Rural Development specialised institutions involved in this work to take up experimental model
polit projects for application of science and technology for total rural
development of a chosen area, to make the educational efforts more
relevant to the live situations in the rural areas and develop a few viable
and replicable models to help and promote rural development on scientific
lines. The scheme envisages a cluster of 100 villages as a single unit to
be taken up for total rural development. The project is to be managed
by a team of professional managers consisting of a General Manager at
the Head Quarters, Area Managers at the nodal centres and Managers at
the village level. The coordinating institution shall be the resource institu-
tion and will serve the Governing Council of the project which shall
comprise all Interests concerned with rural development. The various
community polytechnics and other institutions shall provide the necessary
scientific and technological inputs. The project world aim at multiplying
the income of the area by 10 times in a period of 5 years, generating
employment, improving productivity, promoting self-reliance and making
fire richer and wholesome through scientific, technological and management
inputs. The project will be validated through action research.
Special Institutes of Appropriate This is a new scheme included in the 7th Five Year Plan. These
Technology and Run] Development Institutes are expected to serve as centres of excellence to develop and
organise courses-from certificate level to post-graduate level, and to do
research in different branches of appropriate technology and rural develop-
ment. In addition, they will serve as focal centres for transfer of technology
and integrated rural development, and also act as resource institutions for
all other institutions and organisations involved in rural development.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), The AIT, Bangkok is an autonomous international graduate institute
Bangkok providing advanced education in engineering, sciences and allied fields. It
enrolls about 600 students from more than 20 countries and has inter-
national faculty members. The Institute is governed by the International
Board of Trustees, whose members come from different countries including
India. It conducts academic programmes in nine disciplines, does research
on problems relevant to Asian countries, and organises special programmes
including short courses and conferences.
The Government of India has agreed to provide the following assistance
to the AIT :-
-Deputation of Indian teachers/experts for a period unto
3 months in specialised areas of engineering and technology,
meeting the entire cost of their deputation.
-Donation of equipment including sports equipment manufactured
in India, books and journals costing Rs. 1.00 lakh every year.
-An annual grant of unto Rs. 2.00 lakhs for financing its co-
operative activities in India.
63
During the period 1983-87, 33 Indian experts were deputed to AIT,
Bangkok.
The 1987-88 budget of this Ministry included a provision of Rs. 10.00
lakhs for the scheme of assistance to the AIT, Bangkok.
Administrative Staff College of India,
Hyderabad The College was set up in of 7 as a joint venture of the Government
of India and the industry. A distinctive feature of the College is its
expertise in post-experience management development programmes not
only in, general management, but also in functional areas like production,
marketing, finance, material management and investment planning.
Following the Prime Minister's visit to the College in April 1986, and
in compliance with his desire, the College designed a Workshop for Minis-
ters and Secretaries to the Government of India. It focussed on the roles
and relationships between Ministers and civil servants, and attempted to
develop a new administrative culture. Three such Workshops were held
to cover 70 Ministers and Secretaries to the Government of India. Another
major event during the year was the launching of the Advanced Manage-
ment Programme (AMP) for Public Enterprises, sponsored by the Bureau
of Public Enterprises (BPE). During 1986-87, the College conducted
112 Management Development Programmes and 55 training courses. The
College also completed several research projects and consultancy assignments.
During 1987-88, an allocation of Rs. 2.50 lakhs was made towards
reimbursement of part of the expenditure incurred by the college on the
training of personnel sponsored by-the Central and State Governments.
Educational Consultants India The only Public Sector Undertaking under this Ministry, Educational
Limited Consultants India Limited, New Delhi was incorporated under the Com-
panies Act, 1956 on June 17, 1981. It functions under the guidance of a
Board of. Directors representing various Ministries and organisations of the
Central Government. It has a part-time non-official Chairman and a
full-time Managing Director.
During the period 1986-87, the Corporation successfully bid for several
projects both in India and abroad. Some of them are :
In India
- Establishment of a Central Council of Rural Institutes/univer-
sities (MHRD).
- Introduction of Vocational Curriculum at 10+2 level in
Madhya, Pradesh (Government of Madhya Pradesh).
- Establishment of Management Development Institute for Ship
building Industry (HSL, Visakhapatnam).
- Establishment of Electronic Design Laboratory at Chulalong-
korn University, Bangkok (Government of India, Ministry of
External Affairs and Department of Electronics).
- Evaluation of Centre for Learning Resources, Pune, (Aga Khan
Foundation).
Establishment of National Testing Service in India (MHRD).
Study of Requirements of Technical Manpower in Madhya
Pradesh-Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Abroad
- Umbrella Project for Strengthening Development Planning in
the Ministry of Education, Government of Ghana (UNDP/
Ministry of Education, Ghana).
- Master Plan for the Establishment of Moi University, Kenya.
- Establishment of Royal Institute of Management, Thimpu,
Bhutan.
64
- Supply of books and journals to Bangaladesh tinder the World
Bank Project for Development of Centre for Public Adminis-
tration.
The Corporation also entered into agreements to arrange training of
students from Tanzania, Ethiopia Botswana, Indonesia, Nepal, Behrain,
Kenya, etc. in Indian Institutions. Tile Corporation made a project (before
tax) of Rs. 1.9.18 lakhs during 1986-87 registering an increase of 398 per
cent and wiped off all the accumulated losses amounting to Rs. 16.43 lakhs.
After providing for all liabilities, a small amount of seed reserve of Rs. 0.67
lakh has been created. The turnover of the Corporation during the year
was 178.13 lakhs registering an increase of 265 per cent. The turnover
per employee was Rs. 6.60 lakhs as compared to Rs 1.98 lakhs during
the previous year.
Board of Assessment for Educational The Board of Assessment for Educational Qualifications was set-up by
Qualifications the Government of India for the purpose of recognition of academic and
professional qualifications for employment to posts and services tinder the
Central Government. The Technical Education Bureau is the Secretariat
of the Board and the Chairman, Union Public Service Commission is the
Chairman of the Board.
Five academic qualifications (four Indian and one foreign) were accorded
recognition during the year.
Partial Financial Assistance The Bureau of Technical Education administers the scheme of "Partial
Financial Assistance" to provide financial assistance partially to teachers
and scientists of academic institutions and research organisations towards
the cost of air-fare for attending International Conferences abroad.
During the year, 11 persons, who chaired conference sessions abroad,
were given assistance to the tune of Rs. 90,000.
Concluding Remarks
From the brief survey of activities given above, it is clear that technically
education made significant progress during the year under report, While
several new initiatives were taken to increase the coverage of technical
education and enhance its accessibility, all the on-going programmes/schemes
were revamped and re-oriented in the light of the directives goals enunciated
in the NPE. It can be said that by and large the financial allocations made
for the various programmes/schemes were optimally utilised and projected
targets achieved.
65