INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION WITH UNESCO
Cooperation between India and India is one of the founder members of the United Nations Educational,
UNESCO Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). As a member of
UNESCO, the Government of India has established, under Article VII
of the Constitution of the Organisation, the National Commission for
Cooperation with Unesco to involve in Unesco's activities, various depart-
ments, agencies, institutions, organisations and individuals engaged in the
advancement of education, science, culture and communication. During
the year under report, the National Commission continued to project its
views on the plans and programmes of Unesco with a view to advising
the Government of India as well as Unesco in formulation and imple-
mentation of its activities. The Commission also continued to perform
its role as a coordinating body at the national level and collaborated with
the National Commissions of Asia and the Pacific and with Unesco's
Regional Offices and Centres for implementation of Unesco's projects.
Besides, the Commission continued to recommend suitable Indian candi-
dates to various Unesco posts and helped Unesco, in arranging placement
of Unesco fellows in professional and specialised institutions in India.
It assisted too in handling contracts offered by Unesco for executing
specific projects or studies as well as administration of funds under
the Participation Programme of Unesco. The following account gives
a brief resume of the activities and programmes undertaken by the Com-
mission during the period under review.
Reconstitution of the Indian National The composition of the Commission is reviewed from time to time
Commission for Co-operation with to make it more effective in the discharge of its assigned functions in
UNESCO relation to the scope and content of Unesco's programmes. The Com-
mission was reconstituted in June, 1987. At present there are about
40 individual members and 40 institutional members. It has five Sub-
Commissions, namely, for Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences,
Culture and Communication. The Minister for Human Resource Deve-
lopment is the President and the Education Secretary is the Secretary-
General of the Commission.
Nineteenth Session and the Meetings The Nineteenth Session of the reconstituted National Commission for
of the Sub-Commissions of the Indian Cooperation with Unesco was convened on July 27, 1987 in New Delhi,
National Commission for Cooperation under the chairmanship of the Minister for Human Resource Develop-
with Unesco ment. Meetings of the five Sub-Commissions were also held during
August-September, 1987. The main purpose of the meetings was to
consider Unesco's Draft Programme and Budget for biennium 1988-89.
The draft amendments and resolutions to be moved by India at the
twenty-fourth session of the General Conference of Unesco held in Paris
in October-November were also approved.
Twenty-fourth Session of the General A high-level delegation led by Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, Minister
Conference of Unesco, Paris for Human Resource Development was sent by the Government of India
to the 24th Session of the General Conference of Unesco held at Paris
from October 20, 1987. The delegation included Sardar Swaran Singh,
who is also India's representative on the Unesco Executive Board, as an
alternate leader. The other members of the delegation were :
Smt. Vyjayanthimala Bali, M.P.; Shri Anil Bordia, Secretary, Department
of Education ; Shri M. Varadarajan, Secretary, Department of Culture
Shri Kireet Joshi, Special Secretary, Department of Education; Prof.
Ravinder Kumar, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
Smt. Arundhati Ghose, Ambassador of India to Unesco; Dr. P. L.
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Malhotra, Director, National Council of Educational Research and
Training ; Shri K. S. Baidwan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting Dr. Lakshman Prasad, Director, Department of Science
and Technology Shri Baldev Mahajan, Secretary, Indian National
Commission for Unesco; and Shri T. C. A. Raghavan, Under Secretary,
Ministry of External Affairs.
The main agenda of the Conference was to consider and adopt Draft
Programme and Budget of Unesco for 1988-89. India took an active
part in the discussions leading to approval of Unesco's biennial budget for
1988-89 amounting to US $ 350,386,000. The Conference also elected
Mr. Federico Mayor of Spain as the new Director-General of Unesco.
India was elected as member of the following Committees/Inter-governmental
bodies
(i) The Council of the International Bureau of Education (113E)
(ii) Inter-governmental Council of General Information Pro-
gramme (PGI) ;
(iii)Inter-governmental Council of the International Hydrological
Programme (IHP) ;
(iv) Inter-governmental Committee of the World Decade for
Cultural Development; and
(v) Headquarters Committee.
Apart from the active participation of the Indian delegation in the
discussions held In the plenary sessions, Programme Commisisons and
Administrative Commission, the Indian delegation submitted fourteen
Draft Amendments and Resolutions to emphasise the point of view of
developing countries and to highlight certain priorities and programmes
for Unesco's work.
The General Conference approved India's resolution regarding
Jawaharlal Nehru's birth-centenary by inviting the Director-General to
carry out a series of practical activities, involving Unesco in the celebration
of the hundredth birth-anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru and to associate
the Organisation with the activities to be organised on the occasion of the
centenary in Member States of Unesco.
The leader of Indian delegation, Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, made a
comprehensive policy statement in the plenary session of the General
Conference covering various aspects of the Draft Programme and Budget
for 1988-89. Shri Rao told the Conference that India had consistently
advocated the value of international cooperation and it had strived to
strengthen international cooperation in all its forms.
Executive Board of UNESCO During the year under report, the 126th, 127th and 128th Sessions of
the Executive Board of Unesco were held at Paris. Sardar Swaran Singh,
India's member on the Executive Board, attended these meetings.
Each Member-State of Unesco contributes to the budget of the
Organisation in accordance With a scale fixed by the General Conference.
Contribution to UNESCO's Budget India's share of contribution has been fixed at present at 0.34 per cent
of its overall budget. At this rate India's contribution for 1986 and 1987
amounted to US $ 620,466/- per annum which is equivalent to Rs. 78,00,000
approximately. This amount has, already been paid.
The Participation, Programme of Unesco enables the Organisation to
Participation Programme of UNESCO participate in the activities of the -Member States which would contribute
at the national, sub-regional, regional and international levels to the
implementation of the objectives defined by the General Conference of
Unesco. It is considered An important means for provinding multinational
cooperation in innovative work. During the biennium 1986-87, Unesco
assistance amounting to US $ 1,03,350 was received by the Commission in
respect of 11 projects approved by Unesco.
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UNESCO Clubs
For revitalising the programme of education for international under-
standing and cooperation, and mobilising support for nation-wide movement
of developing right kind of values and attitudes in the young students, the
Indian National-Commission for Co-operation with Unesco has Continued.
at national level, to coordinate the Unesco Club movement in the country-
It organised two orentation programmes for Unesco Club Directors, in
collaboration with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan, New Delhi. One
such programme was organised at the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Udaipur and
the other was held in Kendriya Vidyalaya, ONGC, Dehradun. The
objectives of these courses were to generate awareness amongst teachers
and educators about the importance of the role of education in fostering
international understanding for universal peace and security, inculcating
respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and
strengthening a resolve for unremitting fight against apartheid and all
forms of discrimination. which are the basic purposes of Unesco.
Education for international Unders- The Indian National Commission has been participating actively in
tanding Unesco Associated Schools Unesco's Associated Schools Project since its inception in 1953. The
Project main aim of the project is to promote the general development of educa-
tion for international understanding through widespread network of
institutions-both primary and secondary schools. as also teacher-training
institutions. At present 36 institutions, comprising 10 teacher-training
institutions and 26 composite schools having both primary and secondary
departments, are participating in, the project, which are in touch with
Unesco Secretariat in Paris. In addition, the Indian National Commission
has also been operating an Expanded Programme for Education for inter-
national understanding which is being implemented by about 330 schools
in the counrty. The Commission continued supplying to them the necessary
documents, materials, reports of the activities of the participating schools.
and other relevant information from time to time.
With financial support from Unesco and the Indian National Commission
for Coorporation with Unesco, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Lodi Estate. New
Delhi has undertaken a project aiming at promotion of international
education and development of supplementary materials and teachers guide
focussed on education for international understanding, cooperation and
peace. The project has commenced from October, 1987 and is likely to be
counted by the end of January, 1988.
UNESCO Coupons Programme In order to ensure free flow of information, Unesco has devised Inter-
national Coupons, Scheme to assist individuals and institutions working in
the fields of education, science and culture, to import their bonafide
requirements of educational materials, equipment etc. from abroad without
undergoing foreign exchange and import control procedures. The Indian
National Commission has been functioning as the distributing agency for
the sale of Unesco, coupons in India. The total sale of Unesco coupons
during 1987-88 will amount to about Rs. 2,00.000/-.
Publication of Indian Language The Indian National Commission, in collaboration with Unesco,
Editions of UNESCO Courier continued to bring out Hindi and Tamil editions of Unesco's monthly
magazine entitled 'Courier' which is one of the most outstanding educational
and cultural periodicals of the world. Hindi an Tamil editions are subscribed
to by educational institutions, libraries, Unesco Clubs, Associated Schools,
and others.
Newsletter The Indian National Commission has been bringing Out regularly, the
half-yearly 'Newsletter' both in English and Hindi versions. The Newsletter
is distributed to Unesco National Commissions of other Member States,
members of the Indian National Commission for Unesco, Unesco Clubs,
Associated Schools in India, schools, colleges, libraries and various other
educational institutions. The journal publicises information about the
activities and programmes of Unesco as well as the activities undertaken
by the Commission.
Scheme fo Financial Assistance to Under the Scheme of Financial Assistance, by the Indian National
voluntary bodies, Unesco Clubs, and Commission for Unesco to voluntary bodies, Unesco, Clubs and Associated
Associated Schools
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Schools, grant-in-aid was given to educational institutions for undertaking
activities in furtherance of aims and objectives of Unesco.
Strengthening of the Indian National The Indian National, Commission for Cooperation with Unesco is
Commission for co-operation with operating a Plan scheme for strengthening its various activities. The current
Unesco, year's provision under the scheme amounts to Rs. 5 lakhs.
Sub-Regional Seminar on Incorpora- The National Council of Educational Research and Training, in collabo-
tion of Environmental Education Into ration with the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco,
Curriculum and 'reacher-Training organised a sub-regional training seminar on incorporation of environmental
education into curriculum and teacher-training for industrial schools in
Asia. The Seminar was, held in New Delhi from April 20-27, 1987.
Delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Thailand participated in the meeting. The meeting studied the impor-
tance and the need of environmental educational in the context of
technical and vocational education and developed strategies for the incor-
poration of environmental education into curricula and teacher-training
for industrial schools. The participants also exchanged information and
experiences in the development of environmental education in the context
of technical and vocational education in the sub-region and made an in-depth
study of the problem in the context of growing concern for the environ-
mental hazards.
Sl. Particulars of the Venue of Dates when the Name of the officer Remarks
Paticipation by India in other con- No. meeting/conference the meeting/ meeting of con- who attended the
ferences/meetings sponsored by Unesco conference ference was held meeting/conference
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. 39th Session or the Hamburg April 27-30. Shri Kireet Joshi, Spe-
Governing Board of 1987 cial Secretary
the Unesco, Insti-
tute for Education
2. 4th Session of the Bangkok May 12-16. Shri Kireet Joshi.
Advisory Committee 1987 Special Secretary
on regioal coope-
ration in Asia and the
the Pacific.
3 international Reflec- Ulan Bator May 24-29, Shri Anil Bordia,
tion Smposium for 1987 Education Secretary
preparations regard-
ing international
Literacy Year.
4. Review Meeting or- Hamburg May 18-22, Shri Y. N. Chaturvedi,
ganised by Unesco 1987 Joint Secretary.
institute of Educa-
tion in connection
with an exploratory
study of the struc-
tures, curricula and
instructional me-
thods for non-for-
mai, and alternative
approaches for edu-
cation at the pri-
mary level in the
framework of life
long education.
5. Meeting of Experts Tokyo July 21-25, Shri P. K. Patnaik,
for Planning book 1987 Joint Secretary.
developmot in Asia
and the Pacific.