ANNUAL REPORT 1989-90

 INTRODUCTORY

1.1.0 In the broad context of "Human development: goals for the 90s" the Unicef report on the State of the World's Children 1990 says: "As the international community formulates development goals and strategies for the 1990 there is a growing consensus that human development must now take centre stage. In the past development planners have been preoccupied with economic indicators such as GNP, savings, investment, trade and production targets. Economic Growth alone, however, is no guarantee that basic human needs will be met. Human development, on the other hand, focuses on the fulfilment of basic human needs as the most important indicator of development... human goals are not just desirable, but technically feasible and financially affordable. The major requirement for their achievement is political will, vision and leadership. It is UNICEF's hope that the leaders of the world. and the development community will rise to the challenge of these goals, aimed at overcoming the worst manifestations of poverty through the enhancement of human capabilities."

1.2.0 Ministry of Human Resource Development has, indeed, placed before itself the mighty task of striving for fulfilment of basic human needs.

1.3.0 As in the last year, this year's report of the

Ministry of Human Resource Development is also presented in five parts, each covering the following Departments :

                  Part I            Education
                  Part II           Culture
                  Part III          Arts
                  Part IV           Women and Child Development
                  Part V            Youth Affairs and Sports

1.4.1 Priorities in the Educational front, in the various sectors were:

- Universalisation of Elementary Education

- Functional skill development in Adult Education

- Vocationalisation of School Education

- Consolidation of Higher Education

- Modernisation of Technical Education

- Language development to foster unity and integrity of the country amidst diversity

1.4.2 Education being a very crucial input in Human Resource Development, target groups given foremost attention were naturally the weaker sections and the disadvantaged-that is,

. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

. Women

. Those living in backward areas, rural areas in general, urban slums, hilly regions, border and desert zones and outlying places of projects.

. Educationally backward minorities

. The handicapped

1.4.3 Access to education from primary to higher education levels was provided through non-formal stream, the NFE programmes and open school and open university systems. Education Technology in terms of the mass media (television and radio), was increasingly pressed into service to facilitate access to Education.

1.4.4 The strategies and instrumentalities followed for overall educational development were-

. Involvement of States and Union Territories to facilitate consensus-based decisions.

. Involvement of voluntary agencies.

. Mass mobilisation.

. Involvement, development and strengthening of national, State and private resource institutions.

. International cooperation bilateral, regional and multi-lateral.

1.4.5 Content of education was continuously oriented towards fundamental values and concerns unity and integrity of the country, creation of cultural consciousness, democracy, secularism and socialism, equality of sexes, development of scientific temper, preservation of environment and population control.

1.5.0 The Department of Culture continued its efforts for the preservation, promotion and enrichment of the cultural traditions of the country through its infrastructure as also through its supportive institutions in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, museums, libraries and the like. The discovery of 28 new caves near Ellora (Maharashtra) and Kalinga Edicts of Asoka at Sannati in Karnataka are outstanding finds of the year. The Organisation of the Festival of France in India as a reciprocal event to our Festival in France in 1985-86, the "Deemed to be University" status acquired by the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, Delhi and the signing of a cultural exchange programme with Pakistan were the highpoints of the activities of the Department during the year. Efforts to bring the peoples of various countries of the world closer to the people of India continued through Cultural agreements and cultural exchange programmes.

1.6.1 The Department of Arts has, during the year under review, started a series of activities with the ultimate objective of facilitating the application of sophisticated electronics and electro- optics technology to scientific studies of Cultural heritage and multi-media documentation of Cultural source material. The objective was to bridge the conceptual chasm between science and modern knowledge on the one side and traditional knowledge, arts, crafts, skills on the other. The Department liaised with a number of science departments of the Government for action on : development of laser optical disk storage of cultural source material, holograms for art objects documentation, computer programmes for desk-top publishing in various Indian scripts,

modules for digital storage of art exhibition materials, etc.

1.6.2 While Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, (an autonomous Trust under the Department of Arts) has been designated as the nodal agency for the National information System and Data Bank for art, humanities and cultural heritage, the Department of Arts took up the question of networking the Governmental agencies for collection of multi-media data for the National Data Bank. The agencies to be networked in the initial phase were identified under the Department of Education, Department of Culture and the Ministry of information and Broadcasting.

1.6.3 A programme of great significance long overdue after Independence was initiated by the Department of Arts during the year. After a series of discussions at State level and careful mobilising of academic and technical teams, a system for microfilming the millions of ancient Indian manuscripts spread all over the country and abroad was operationalised. A start was made by launching the microfilm programme at the manuscript libraries most important in India, specially the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras, Saraswati Bhawan Library of Dr. Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi and the collections at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune. Arrangements were also finalised for starting a similar programme at Saraswati Mahal Manuscripts Library, Thanjavur, University of Kerala Oriental Manuscripts Library, Trivandrum and Vedic Sanshodhan Mandal, Pune. Several Commissions ranging from the Sanskrit Commission including Dr. V. Raghavan Committee had recommended an all India programme. Government of India had accepted these recommendations and had plans for microfilming the ancient Indian manuscripts collections both within the country and abroad. But a systematic programme could be launched only with the initiative taken by Department of Arts. The Department of Arts also finalised, with the help of Indian missions abroad and the Ministry of External Affairs, inter-institutional agreements for supply of microfilms of Indian materials which are in overseas custody. In the first phase of this programme, reprographic material has already started coming from the Stass Bibliothek in Berlin, National Bibliotheque in Paris and India Office library, London. it is hoped that in due course the entire rich heritage of ancient Indian manuscripts would be finally available at one place for consultation and reference by academics, scholars, students and others.

1.7.1 The Department of Women and Child Development continued its concerted efforts to bring women into the mainstream of National Development through various socioeconomic programmes seeking to guarantee for them equality of status and social justice. A significant step in this direction was the drawing up of the National Perspective Plan (NPP) upto 2000 AD for Women which is a long term overall policy, guided by the principles and directives relevant to the development process. The Plan is linked to the national targets determined for the end of the century in respect of certain basic indicators as those of health, education and employment. A National Resource Centre is also being established as a national level apex body to extend research, training and information services.

1.7.2 Further, the Department continued its priority concentration in rendering early childhood services. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was expanded by the sanction of 500 additional projects in 1989-90. The cumulative number of these projects, benefiting children in the age group of 0-6 and expectant and nursing mothers was 2438 - 2236 projects in the Central Sector and 202 in the State Sector.

1.8.1 The Third National Conference of Ministers of Youth Affairs & Sports of States and Union Territories was held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat on March 10, 1989. Specific recommendations were made as to how the National Youth Policy was to be implemented. Prime Minister Shri V.P. Singh presented the National Youth Awards at a function held in January, 1990 in New Delhi. National Youth Week was also celebrated during this month befittingly. The National Service Scheme, the youth programme for university students, continued to contribute to Nation building activities through community services. The NSS volunteers immensely supported the National literacy Mission, fielding 2.5 lakh volunteers. Selected NSS volunteers representing the States, Union Territories and universities participated in the Republic Day Parade 1990. Nehru Yuva Kendras continued their efforts for exposing the rural/non-student youth to new opportunities in various districts of the country, apart from promoting literacy. Presently Nehru

Yuva Kendras, are spread over 401 districts. The Department of Youth Affairs continued massive assistance for organising meaningful national integration schemes, promotion of adventure, training of youth, youth exhibitions and voluntary organisations. More youth hostels were established to provide facilities for youth travel, youth festivals and exhibitions. Scouts and guides movement gained in strength.

1.8.2 In sports, the Department pressed forward for the attainment of the twin goals of excellence in performance in prestigious international events and diversifying, activities. The Sports Authority of India has become the premier Institution for identification of talents, training of elite sportspersons as also development of sports academics. With a view to enhance the competitive edge of the sportspersons, the Department continued its emphasis on creation of world standard infrastructure in specified places. The synthetic athletic tracks and artificial hockey surfaces were installed in many places and financial assistance was sanctioned for many more. The Department of Youth Affairs & Sports increased the number and intensity of international cooperation activities in the field of Physical Education and Sports. Cumulatively, seven Sports Protocols and forty five Cultural Exchanges were concluded. Competent coaches for special training to facilitate international standard competition were engaged for the benefit of National Teams in many disciplines of sports under these Charters of cooperation. Overall improvement in performance and greater achievements in prestigious international sports events could be secured because of such intensive special efforts. The Indian archers won the Asian Championship in October, 1989 by dethroning South Korea, the reigning Olympic Champion. Indian weightlifters gathered an unprecedented haul of medals in Commonwealth Games, 1990. In Wrestling, India won 7 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals in the Commonwealth Championship 1989. The Indian athletes performed highly creditably in Asian Track & Field Event held in November 1989 by securing overall 2nd position after China.

1.8.3 The efforts of the Department for awakening mass consciousness for Physical Fitness and National Integration culminated in the successful organisation of display of colourful mass physical exercises by about 35000 of students to the beat of captivating music on 14th of November, 1989 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.