7.10.2 In the context of the implementation of the NPE, Programme of Action documents have been prepared by all the colleges for their development upto the end of Eighth Five Year Plan. The documents contain the overall goals, objectives and action points to achieve such objectives in the respective Colleges. The Annual Plan 1991-92 in respect of each college has been finalised as per their Programme of Action documents.
7.10.3 During the year, the emphasis for development as per the Programme of Action had been on the expansion and diversification of academic programmes, modernisation of laboratories, improvement of students and staff amenities, construction of students hostels (both for boys and girls), expansion of facilities for Computer Centres at selected Colleges and development of laboratories in the Colleges under
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the Scheme of Institutional Network with the IITs.
7.10.4 A proposal to develop the collaboration between the RECs and the British University/Institutions in the emerging areas is being finalised for implementation during the 8th plan period.
Development of Post-Graduate Courses And Research Work 7.11.1 The Government of India is directly assisting sixteen State Governments and twenty-four non-Government post-graduate institutions under the scheme of development of post-graduate education and research in engineering and technology. The scheme has made considerable contribution in promoting development (R&D) in particular.
7.11.2 The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) examination was held in February, 1991 on the basis of which admissions were made to post-graduate courses in July, 1991.
Quality Improvement Programme 7.12.1 The main objective of the programme is to improve the quality and standards of technical education system in the country. This objective is being achieved through long term programme like M.Tech. and Ph.D. programmes, `short-term courses and short-term in- service training programmes in Industry and Curriculum Development Programmes for faculty members of technical institutes. The long-term as well as short term programmes are implemented through the Quality Improvement Centres established at five IITs, IISc., Bangalore, and the University of Roorkee. Such programmes are also organised by the Indian Society for Technical Education at various engineering colleges and polytechnics. The TTTIs conduct short-term programmes for polytechnic teachers. Short-term in-service training programmes in Industry are being implemented through the Regional Offices of the Ministry.
7.12.2 In the coming year the aim is to train 125 teachers for M.Tech. and 80 teachers for Ph.D. courses in addition to those continuing from previous years. Curriculum Development Programmes are conducted at seven Centres located in IIT's, I.I.Sc., Bangalore and University of Roorkee. Under Summer/Winter School Programmes, the target is to train about 2400 degree and diploma teachers through Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), New Delhi. As regards the Short-term courses, the Quality Improvement Programme Centres are free to organise as many courses as possible with-in the Budget. Under the Training Programme in Industry, Degree/Diploma teachers are to be trained through the Regional Offices according to the available budget.
Word Bank Assisted Project to Support Technician Education 7.13.1 Recognising the need for revamping technician education system, the Government have launched a major project to be
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implemented in two overlapping phases with the assistance of the World Bank to enable the State Governments to upgrade their polytechnics in capacity, quality and efficiency. The project estimated to cost over Rs. 1650 crores including World Bank Credit/Loan assistance of about US$ 567 million over this period 1990-98 will cover polytechnics approved/recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education in sixteen States and one Union Territory. The project covers nearly 80% of the approved polytechnics in the country. It is primarily a State-sector project and the entire cost is to be provided by the participating State Governments from their respective State Plan allocation during the VIII/IX Plan periods. The project will be implemented by the State Governments under the overall guidance, support and monitoring by the Department of Education for which a small central component covering strengthening of the four Technical Teachers' Training Institutes in the country and establishment of a National Project Implementation Unit (NPIU) in the Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL) has been provided in the project.
7.13.2 The first phase of the project estimated to cost about Rs.832 crores and covering polytechnics in the States of Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh has already been approved and is under implementation. The first phase became technically effective after the signing of the formal agreements, in December, 1990.
7.13.3 The second phase with similar objectives and costing approximately Rs. 825 crores covers polytechnics in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and the Union Territory of Delhi. The second phase has also been approved and will be declared operational after signing of the formal agreements. The polytechnics in the remaining States/Union Territories are pro posed to be covered within the framework of the flexibility built into the two phases of the project.
Institutional Network Scheme 7.14.1 The scheme was initiated during 1981-82 to develop an internal assistance programme of networking between well developed technological institutions such as IITs/IISc and comparatively less developed institutions such as the RECs and State engineering colleges for development of laboratories, exchange of faculty, training of faculty members and collaborating in research programmes.
7.14.2 During the Seventh Plan period, 199 laboratories have been supported through the networking scheme and an amount of Rs. 4.95 crore has been released for the purpose. Another forty laboratories were supported during 1990-91 and 1991-92 at a cost of Rs. 1 crore during each year.
7.14.3 According to the provisions of the scheme, an approved project of networking is supported by the grant of an amount of
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Rs. 5 lakh out of which 50 per cent is borne by the Department and the remaining 50 per cent by the institution concerned.
Thrust Areas of Technical Education
(a) Strengthening of facilities in crucial areas of technology where weakness exists
7.15.1 The Scheme was instituted during the Sixth Plan and modified in scope and dimensions during the Seventh Plan with the objective of strengthening facilities in technological institutions offering courses at under-graduate level in certain identified areas of technology where critical gaps exist, through (i) augmentation of physical facilities such as laboratory equipment, space, faculty and supporting staff, (ii) diversification of courses, and (iii) preparation of base for post-graduate programmes. The identified areas of technology where weakness exists are: computer science/technology, electronics, instrumentation, material science/technology, maintenance engineering, product development/design, bio-conversion, ergonomics, printing technology, management science and entrepreneurship.
7.15.2 An amount of Rs. 39.30 crore was released during the Seventh Plan period supporting 347 projects. During 1991-92, 82 projects were supported at a cost of Rs. 731.00 lakh.
(b) Creation of infrastructure in areas of emerging technologies
7.15.3 The scheme was instituted on an experimental basis during the Sixth Plan period with the objective of creating infrastructural facilities for education, research and training in 14 identified areas of emerging technologies in selected engineering/technological institutions. During the Seventh Plan period, the scope and dimensions of the scheme were enlarged substantially. The objectives of the scheme are:
- To develop infrastructure in terms of modern laboratories in identified areas of emerging technologies.
- To develop a strong base for advanced level work by identifying programmes and courses.
- To provide facilities and support for R&D activities in frontier areas of technology and national basis so that technology gaps with reference to advanced countries are eventually bridged.
- Development of manpower.
- Facilities for training the faculty.
- Development of linkages with other institutions including R&D establishments and user agencies.
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- Dissemination of information in the areas of expertise developed by the supported institutions.
7.15.4 The seventeen areas identified for support under this scheme are: energy science, transportation engineering, microelectronics, remote sensing, atmospheric science, reliability engineering, environmental engineering, water resources management, optical communication and fibre-optics, laser technology, informatics, telematics, education technology, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture, microprocessors, robotics and artificial intelligence. During the Seventh Plan, an amount of Rs. 57.33 crore was released to support 458 projects. During 1991-92, 99 projects were supported involving a grant of Rs. 8.99 crore.
(c) Programmes of new and/or improved technologies and offering new courses in specialised fields
7.15.5 This is a new scheme instituted during 1987-88 as part of the implementation of NPE. The scheme has been formulated keeping in view the changing industrial scene and the pace of technology development the world over. Many new areas of technology have evolved in recent years in the conventional as well as emerging fields of technology which have relevance to the national needs, where manpower with appropriate expertise has to be developed. Forty-six new/improved area of technology have been identified where programmes/courses are supported under the scheme.
7.15.6 During 1987-90 an amount of Rs. 11.22 crore was released to support 67 projects. During 1991-92, 70 projects were supported involving an amount of Rs. 7.95 crore.
7.15.7 The annual review meetings were held to assess the impact of the projects sanctioned under all these three schemes of Thrust Areas in IIT, Delhi and SJ College of Engineering, Mysore during September, 1991.
Modernisation and Removal of Obsolescence 7.16.1 The Scheme was initiated during the Sixth Plan period with the objective of providing modern instruments and machinery in selected engineering colleges to meet the requirements of technological advances and curricular changes on the basis of 100% direct central assistance.
7.16.2 During the Seventh Plan, and more particularly after NPE was adopted, the scope and dimensions of the scheme were expanded to cover IITs, RECs and other engineering colleges including technical universities and technological faculties of universities, polytechnics and removal of obsolescence of human resource. The objectives of the scheme were re-defined as follows:-
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- Removal of obsolescence in machinery and equipment of laboratories and workshops in engineering and technological institutions.
- Modernisation by addition of new equipment relevant to the curricular needs as a sequel to the fast development in technologies.
- To provide students with hand-on experience in laboratory practice in modern technologies.
- Creation of new laboratories.
- Provision of computers.
- Training and re-training of faculty and supporting staff.
7.16.3 Data on the number of projects supported during the Seventh Plan and during 1990-91 and 1991-92 and the amounts of grant released each year are given below:-
Table 7.3
Support for Modernisation and Removal of obsolescence
in Technical Education
Year Number of Amount of
projects grant released
supported (Rs.in crore)
1985-86 131 15.00
1986-87 151 18.00
1987-88 529 60.00
1988-89 603 52.70
1989-90 400 37.00
1990-91 328 30.60
1991-92 334 30.00
National Technical Manpower Information System 7.17.1 The National Technical Manpower Information System (NTMIS) has been set up by the Government of India with a view to generating strong data base in order to monitor the supply and utilization of engineering and technical manpower at the national and the individual state levels so as to ensure a planned development of technical education. The system comprises a Lead Centre at the Institute of Applied Manpower Research, New Delhi and twenty-one Nodal Centres, including the four Boards of Apprenticeship/Practical Training, which are located in different States.
7.17.2 Under the NTMIS programme of work, primary data are being gathered regularly, and on an annual basis, from graduates
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of different academic programmes, academic institutions and the organisations in the socioeconomic sectors which employ engineering and technical manpower. Of the twenty-one Nodal Centres, seventeen Centres located mostly at selected engineering colleges in the country are responsible for surveying academic Institutes and Boards of Apprenticeship Training have the responsibility of gathering data from the employing organisation.
7.17.3 During the year under report Under-graduate module data upto the year 1984 has been collected and survey for year 1985 is in progress. Few nodal centres have even taken the work of data compilation from 1988 onwards, under-graduate module, to make the data bank current and uptodate.
7.17.4 Based on the above data, State-wise Annual Technical Manpower Review Reports relating to the years 1982-85 have been compiled in respect of Tamilnadu and Chandigarh. Similar reports for Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala have been completed for the year from 1983 to 1986.
7.17.5 Reports on Labour Market Structure of Engineering Manpower have also been compiled to the reference years 1982 to 1986 for Assam, Bihar and Orissa. Users' Profile of Engineering Manpower and its characteristics of Utilisation (1983-84) have been made for Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal during this year.
7.17.6 The above reports provide information on the type of employment opportunities available to the graduates of different disciplines. It also indicates the pattern of absorption of graduates in different forms of activities and extent of unemployment in specific fields.
7.17.7 In November, 1989, the National Expert Committee recommended the continuation of the scheme and strengthening it suitably. The Government has since accepted the report and recommendations are being implemented.
Development of Management Education at Non-University Centres 7.18.0 In order to meet the need for trained managerial manpower at different levels, the Government of India initiated a programme to provide assistance to certain non-university centres which are functioning at all-India level and are offering two year full-time and three year part-time post-graduate diploma course in Management Studies. The assistance is given to the institutions on the recommendations of the All India Board of Management Studies/AICTE. So far the Government of India has been giving assistance to a few institutions for consolidation and development of their management programmes. In the present situation, it is very essential to promote programmes in the fields of non-corporate, un-organised and service sectors. Recently, the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta has been requested to frame a programme for the non-corporate and un-organised sectors.
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All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) 7.19.1 To ensure the coordinated development of technical education in accordance with the approved standards the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was set up in 1945 as a national expert body to advise the Central and State Governments on the development of technical education. Even before the inclusion of education in the Concurrent List, the coordination and determination of standards in technical institutions has been the constitutional responsibility of the Central Government.
7.19.2 In order to deal with the situation which arose by the mushroom growth of large number of private engineering colleges and polytechnics, the AICTE was given the status of a statutory body by an Act of Parliament. The AICTE covers all technical institutions and University Technical Departments conducting diploma, degree and P.G. courses in the fields of studies like engineering and technology, management, town planning, architecture, applied art and pharmacy, throughout the country.
7.19.3 The Council became operational through its Executive Committee and four Regional Committees at Kanpur, Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. The Council has established All India Boards of Studies at technician, under-graduate and post-graduate levels in engineering and technology and one in the field of management education. The Post- graduate Board has recommended introduction of a number of new Post Graduate Courses. The Technician Board has taken up the task of revamping diploma courses in Engineering and Technology in the light of World Bank assistance for Technician Education. The Council has set up the Board of Studies for Architecture and Town Planning under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Architecture to deal with the development of education in the field of architecture. The Expert Committee of the Council met in April, 1991 and approved introduction of new courses and programmes. The Council approved norms and standards for various courses and guidelines for admission to technical institutions.
7.19.4 During the year under report the Council approved 42 new institutions and 231 programmes to be introduced in the technical and management institutions.
Community Polytechnics 7.20.1 The scheme of Community Polytechnics was instituted under the Direct Central Assistance Scheme in 1978-79 in 36 polytechnics, on an experimental basis, with a view to ensure for the rural society a fair share of benefits from the investments in technical education system. The scheme envisaged that the Community Polytechnics would act as focal points for science and technology applications in rural areas and generate self and wage employment opportunities through non- formal training towards competency and need based courses in various trades or multi-skill. It aims at poverty alleviation, socioeconomic upliftment and qualitative improvement in the life style
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of people particularly the rural masses. While people's participation is an in-built feature in the scheme, the thrust is on the under- privileged, disadvantaged and the economically weaker sections of the society. About 100 technical/vocational trades relevant to respective local. socioeconomic conditions have been identified for imparting skill development training oriented towards employment generation. No minimum academic qualifications have been prescribed for admission to the various courses conducted. However, women, minorities and the drop-outs are encouraged. One hundred fifty-nine Community Polytechnics (till December 1991) are at present functioning all over the country. All the identified minority concentrated districts (41 in number) have already been covered under the scheme. The Community Polytechnics carry out the following activities
- Socio-economic survey;
- Manpower Development and Training;
- Technology Transfer;
- Technical and support services towards Entrepreneurship Development; and
- Information dissemination.
7.20.2 The scheme of Community Polytechnics includes establishment of Centres for Development of Rural Technology (CDRTs) for R&D support. Fifteen diploma level institutions have so far been selected as CDRTs for development, modification and adaptation of technology, appropriate and relevant to the rural needs, as R&D system for the Community Polytechnics. Separate grants under the scheme are being released to these CDRTs.
7.20.3 The Community Polytechnics set up extension centres in the far-flunged rural areas so that the services and facilities that could be made available through the system are provided right at the door step of the villages. Community Polytechnics have made significant contribution towards promoting transfer of a large number of tested and approved items of technology to the rural areas including Bio-gas Plants, Wind-mills, Smokeless Chulhas, Rural Latrines, Solar Appliances, Agricultural Implements etc. These institutions have been able to establish proper linkages and effective collaboration and coordination with a number of Government and non-Government agencies. A number of Community Polytechnics are directly involved in the execution of All India Coordinated Projects (AICP) on Water, Health, Sanitation for Rural Women sponsored by Department of Science and Technology Government of India. A number of them are also actively engaged in planning and implementation of community support services, for example, community Bio-gas system, community waste disposal system and rural health services on Water, Health and Sanitation awareness programmes.
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Employment Generation in Rural Areas 7.20.4 The employment generation through the scheme is mainly from the non-formal short-term training, through competency and need-based courses in various trades, or in multi-skills depending upon the requirement. These institutions, on an average, train about 25,000 rural youth every year. Of these, about 35-40% are absorbed in self- employment.
7.20.5 The employment generated through the scheme can be broadly categorised in three main categories:
i) Direct wage employment in the scheme;
ii) Self employment of trained youth;
iii) wage employment in rural projects/industries and services.
7.20.6 More than 20,000 rural youth and women including school drop-outs have been trained in various technical/vocational trades during the year and a number of them have been engaged in self- employment.
7.20.7 Four Regional Workshops at Allahabad, Bhopal, Calcutta and Madras followed by a national level meeting of the Regional TTTI Coordinators at Delhi were organised during the year to review the implementation of the scheme, vis-a-vis its objectives. It is proposed to expand the scope and activities of the scheme during the Eighth Plan with thrusts on (1) special programmes for women, (2) post-literacy continuing education for neo-literates through income- generating techno-economic activities, (3) area-specific and culture- specific Tribal Area Component programmes, (4) transfer of technology in the priority areas of (i) low cost housing, (ii) safe drinking water for rural masses, (iii) rural sanitation, (iv) non-conventional and alternative energy devices, (v) agro-farming and agri-irrigation, and (vi) rural transportation.
7.20.8 An exhibition on Community Polytechnics was organised at TTTI, Bhopal during its Silver Jubilee Celebrations in August, 1991. The Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Arjun Singh, inaugurated the Exhibition and appreciated the activities of Community Polytechnics.
Programme of Apprenticeship Training 7.21.1 The Programme of Apprenticeship Training for Engineering graduates 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
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establishments and the Government of India.
7.21.2 The number of apprentices engaged every year as on 31st October for the last three years is shown in the table below:
Table 7.4
Number of Apprentices
31.10.89 31.10.90 31.10.91
Total trainees 21736 21053 22075
Graduate trainees 6102 6042 6879
Diploma holders 15634 15011 15196
Scheduled Castes 838 714 908
Schedules Tribes 171 148 167
Minorities 1456 1057 1335
Handicapped 11 10 33
Women 1345 1836 2089