8.9.1 The Regional Boards of Apprenticeship Training were set up at Bombay, Calcutta, Kanpur and Madras for the purpose of providing industrial training to engineering graduates and diploma holders coming out of engineering colleges and polytechnics,
8.9.2 The main function of the Board is to implement the provision of the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 & 1986.
8.9.3 Every year, there is a sharp increase in the number of trainees. At present, there are around 23000 (twenty three thousand) apprentices.
Colombo Plan Staff College, Manila 8.10.1 The main objective of the Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education, Manila is to improve the quality of technician education and training in the Colombo Plan region by meeting the needs of technician teachers, educators and trainers as well as those staff in technician education system who play an active part in inservice training and staff development programme in the member countries. The main functions of the college are to:-
1. provide courses for further professional technician education and training;
2. Conduct study conferences on various aspects of technician education;
3. Assist in conduct of special courses;
4. promote, coordinate and undertake research;
5. Assist in the development of training facilities; and
6. Collect and disseminate information on technical education.
8.10.2 The CPSC has been holding various programme viz. college village based courses, sub regional workshops and in country courses to achieve the above aims. Ministry has been participating in these programmes.
Administrative Staff College of India-Hyderabad 8.11.1 The college was set up in 1957 as a joint venture of the Government of India and Industry. A distinct feature of the college is its expertise in post-experience management, development programme not only in general management, but also in functional areas like production marketing finance, materials management and investment planning.
8.11.2 The College is conducting workshops for Secretaries and top executives of the Government of India to develop a new administerial culture. The college has also completed general research projects and consultancy assignments. Another major event is the launching of the advanced Management Programme (AMP) for Public Enterprises
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sponsored by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The College has become self-sufficient to finance its training programmes.
Revision of pay-scales of the Teachers of Technical Institutions
Assistance to the State Governments 8.12.0 The pay-scales of the teachers, librarians and physical education instructors in engineering colleges and other degree-level technical institutions have been revised with effect from 01.01.1986. The Central Government provides 80% of the additional expenditure involved in the implementation of the scheme from 01.01. 1986 to 31.03.90 to the state Governments which adopt the AICTE-revised pay- scale. A total amount of Rs.32 crores has been released to the various State Governments by the end of March 1994 for meeting 80% of the additional expenditure involved in the revision.
World Bank Assisted Technician Education Project 8.13.1 Recognising the need for revamping technician education as projected in the National Education Policy the Government has launched a major project being implemented in two overlapping phases with the assistance of World Bank to enable the State Governments to upgrade their polytechnics in capacity, quality and efficiency.
8.13.2 The World Bank Assisted Project to support technician education is estimated to cost Rs. 1650.00 crores including World Bank Credit Assistance of Special Drawing Rights of 373.3 million over the period 1990-99. The project under two phases covers 17 States and 2 Union Territories involving 542 polytechnics. The polytechnics in the remaining States and UTs are proposed for World Bank Assistance within the overall framework and flexibility built into the project. It is primarily a State sector project and the entire cost is provided. by the participating State Government from their respective State Plan allocations. The project is being implemented by the State Governments under the overall guidance, support and monitoring by Department of Education for which a small Central component covering strengthening of the four Technical Teachers Training Institutes in the country, establishment of National project Implementation unit and a National Project Directorate in the Ministry have been provided in the project. The World Bank Assisted Technician Education Project gives thrust for women education through creation of additional places of 9200 for women in polytechnics by establishing 39 new women polytechnics besides providing seats for women in Coed polytechnics. The project also provides for additional hostel facilities for girl students.
8.13.3 A mid Term Review of the project in 9 States undertaken by the World Bank was found to be satisfactory and that the objectives envisaged would be achieved.
Pass Book Scheme/Custom Duty Exemption Certificate for Import of
Equipments and Consumables 8.14.0 To facilitate expeditious import and clearance of scientific equipment for research purposes, a Pass Book Scheme is in operation since 1988. It authorises import of scientific and technical instruments, equipments, apparatus assessories, spare parts and consumable goods free of import duty. For import under this scheme, the Heads of the Institutions are authorised to certify that the goods being imported are such as not manufactured in India, and are essential for research purpose. The maximum upper limits of aggregate c.i.f. value allowed annually for equipment etc. and consumables are
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Rs.5.00 crores and Rs.2.00 crores respectively. It excludes any single equipment etc./consumable item whose aggregate c.i.f. value exceeds Rs.20.00 lakhs. For any single item including those whose c.i.f. value exceeds Rs.20.00 lakhs, a CDE Certificate is issued. The scheme covers Public Funded Research Institutions, Universities and Colleges. The Bureau of Technical Education in the Department of Education is responsible for issuing Pass Books to Universities and Colleges. During the year under report (upto September, 1994) about 348 Pass Books and 265 CDE Certificate have been issued.
Board of Assessment for Educational Qualifications 8.15.1 The Board of Assessment for Educational Qualifications was set up by the Government of India for the purpose of recognition of academic and professional qualifications for employment to posts and services under the Central Government. The Technical Education Bureau in the Department of Education is the Secretariat of the Board and Member, UPSC is the chairman of the Board.
8.15.2 The 21st meeting of the Board of Assessment for Educational Qualifications was held on 9th September, 1994.
Community Polytechnic 8.16.1 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 of community polytechnics aims at sustainable community development without environmental degradation by way of S&T applications for socioeconomic uplift and improvement in the quality of life of the common man through micro level planning and people's participation at the grass-root level. The Scheme lays stress on poverty alleviation, employment generation and removal of drudgery for the women through location-culture, specific non-formal need based short-term training in skill oriented technical/vocational trades with no pre-conditions of age, sex or qualification. The training is specially geared to the needs of the unemployed/underemployed youth/school/college dropouts the under-privileged and disadvantaged including women minorities and the weaker sections of the society. The Community Polytechnics (CPs) also undertake activities like Technology Transfer Technical support and S&T awareness for the community.
8.16.2 With their institutionalised structure and network the CPs establish grass-root level involvement in the Community through linkages with Village Panchayats, Zilla Parishad, accredited voluntary organisations etc. and set up Extension Centres at far-flung villages. The Centres for Development of Rural Technology (CDRT) ACT AS R&D support system for CPs towards development, modification, adoption, adaptation and assimilation of simple, cost effective technology appropriate and relevant to the rural needs. The Regional Technical Teachers Training Institution (TTTIs) act as resource, institute for the CPs/CDRTs for academic, technical and managerial support and guidance.
8.16.3 About 100 technical/vocational trade relevant to respective local economic conditions have been identified for imparting skill development oriented towards employment generation. No minimum academic qualification have been prescribed for admission to the various courses. However, women, minorities and d the dropouts are encouraged. All the identified minority concentrated district (41) in
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number) in the country 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;
8.16.4 The scheme of Community polytechnics includes establishment of Centres for Development of Rural Technology(CDRTs) for R & D support. Thirty one 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 the CDRTs.
8.16.5 The Community Polytechnics set up extension centres in the far-flung 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 them are actively engaged in Planning and implementations 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.
8.16.6 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. By March 1994 about three lakh youths were trained under the scheme and out of this, about 60% got self/wage-employment.
8.16.7 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.
8.16.8 More than 70,000 rural youth and women, including school drop-outs have been trained in various technical/ vocational trades during the year 1994-95 and a number of them have been engaged in self-employment. The thrust during the 8th plan is on (i) special programmes for women, (2) post-literacy, continuing education for neo- literates through income-generating techno-economic activities, (3) area-specific and
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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 learning and agri-irrigation and (vi) rural transportation.
8.16.9 In order to evolve an appropriate strategy towards the promotion of Rural Sanitation Programme through the CPs, four Regional Workshops have been organised during 1993-94, with the sponsorship of UNICEF.
8.16.10 The objectives of the UNICEF assisted programme are:
i. Review of the State of Art of Rural Sanitation Technologies being developed and practiced in India;
ii. Assessment of various technology options and design option for Rural Sanitation vis-a-vis the diverse socioeconomic and socio-cultural environments as well as agro-climatic and geo-hydrological conditions prevalent in the country;
iii. Documentation of the contributions made by CPS/CDRT in the field of Appropriate Low Cost Rural Sanitation.
iv. R&D for development of technically sound feasible economically viable socially, culturally acceptable low- cost rural sanitation technology
v. Recommendations for evolving, suitable Models of Technology for implementation.
vi. implementation strategy and the role of the CDRTs/pertaining to development and transfer of Appropriate low cost Rural Sanitation Technology:
vii. Human Resource Development in Rural Sanitation.
viii. Development of Clean Healths Personal, Domestic and Community Hygiene.
ix. Awareness generation and motivation programmes ensuring Community participation in Rural Sanitation.
North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology 8.17.1 The North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (NERIST), Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) was established in 1986 to generate skilled manpower in the field of Engineering and Technology as well as applied science streams for the development of North Eastern Region. While the Department of Education was giving necessary technical guidance to the NERIST it was being funded through North Eastern Council. w.e.f. 1994-95 the Institute is being funded by the Department of Education. The NERIST was conceived as a unique institution offering a sequence of modular programmes, each of 2 year duration leading to certificate, diploma and degree in Technology and Applied Sciences. Provisional affiliation to NERIST has been accorded by North Eastern Hill University. Granting of University status to this Institute is under consideration. A Review Committee has been constituted to look into the academic and other developmental aspects of the institute.
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8.17.2 At present (1994-95), the Institute is offering the following courses at Certificate, Diploma and Degree levels:
I. Certificate Level (2 years) i) Agricultural Engineering
ii) Construction Engineering
iii) Maintenance Engineering (Electrical)
iv) Maintenance Engineering (Electronics)
v) Maintenance Engineering (Mechanical)
vi) Forestry
II. Diploma Level (2 years) i) Agricultural Engineering
ii) Civil Engineering
iii) Computer Science and Engineering
iv) Electrical Engineering
v) Electronics and Communication Engineering
vi) Mechanical Engineering
III. Degree Level (2 years) i) Agricultural Engineering
ii) Civil Engineering
iii) Computer Science and Engineering
iv) Electrical Engineering
v) Electronics and Telcommunication Engineering
vi) Mechanical Engineering
vii) Forestry (4 years)
Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL) New Delhi 8.18.1 Educational Consultants India Ltd. New Delhi the only public sector enterprise under this Ministry was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 on June 17, 1981. It functions under the guidance of 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.
8.18.2 During the year, the corporation executed the project space planning for the campus of Tertiary Education in Mauritius. The Company also completed the project Appraisal Report for Arhh Minch Water Technology Institute in Ethiopia, which was awarded in the. previous year. In addition, the company was awarded project on investigation of Eight Target Colleges in Technical Education in India by UNESCO, Japan and the same was also completed during the year.
8.18.3 The company also completed preparation of IIT, Assam project awarded by Ministry of HRD and the evaluation of population Education Programme for Higher Education awarded by University Grants Commission, in the previous years. The
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Company also executed some other projects like evaluation of population education, Orissa and the pre-feasibility Report for establishment of Rural Institute by Godfrey Phillip India.
8.18.4 The Company was also awarded some secondment projects like selection of principal, Indian School Jeddah. Selection of Ten Teachers, Embassy of Indian School Riyadh. Five Agricultural Specialist. Alemaya University, Ethiopia, Also certain supplies of Books and Educational Aids were executed like School equipment to Nambia. Books in Copperbelt University, Zambia, both being awarded by the Ministry of External Affairs.