152
Session of the General Conference of Unesco. Number of eminent International Personalities who had known Nehru or studied his life and political, career attended this Seminar and paid glowing tributes to the many facets of Nehru. The Seminar was inaugurated by Shri P. Shiv Shanker, Minister for Human Resource Development on 27th September, 1989. Prof Nurul Hussan, Governor of Orissa, Sardar Swaran Singh, India's representative on the Excecutive Board of Unesco, Mrs. Kapila Vatsyayan, Secretary, Department of Arts, Dr. S. Gopal, Prof. Ravinder Kumar, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Shri M.J. Akbar, Editor, 'Telegraph' and Dr. (Smt.) Suma Chitnis of Bombay, were the Indian participants.
16.20.2 At the Seminar, the participants presented papers on different aspects of the main theme on which discussions took place.
16.20.3 The Unesco published extracts from scholarly writings of Pandit Nehru in Spanish, reflecting his views on culture, science, philosophy etc. These extracts were selected from the following works of Pandit Nehru :-
* Autobiography
* Discovery of India
* Glimpses of World History
The publication was released on the occasion of the International Seminar on Nehru referred to above.
16.20.4 Unesco also brought out a commemorative coin on Pandit Nehru. Govt. of India provided the design of the coin.
16.20.5 A pictorial Exhibition on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was also organised at Unesco Hqrs., Paris, which was Mounted by the Implementation Committee for the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of India's Independence and the Jawaharlal Nehru centenary, New Delhi. The Exhibition, based on Sir Charles Eama's Nehru Exhibition,, was designed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. It received wide acclaim in Paris.
16.20.6 . On 7th June 1989,a function was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for renaming one of its halls after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The World Heritage Committee 16.21.1 In pursuance of the provisions of the Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, Unesco, has constituted the World Heritage Committee to identify those natural and cultural sites which merit inclusion in World Heritage List and to administer World Heritage Fund. It comprises twenty-one Member States. India had been elected a member of this Committee at the 23rd Session of the General Conference of Unesco held in 1985.
16.21.2 Following thirteen Cultural monuments and five natural sites from India have so far been included in the World Heritage List:-
Monuments 1. Taj Mahal
2. Ajanta Caves
3. Elloira Caves
4. Agra Fort
5. Sun Temple. at Konark
6. Monuments of Mahabalipuram
7 Churches and Convents of Goa
8. Group of Monuments of Khajuraho
9. Group of Monuments at Hampi
10. Group of Monuments at Fatehpur Sikri
11. Group of Monuments at Pattadkul
12. Elephanta Caves
13. Brihadisvara Temple
Natural Sites 1. Kaziranga National Park
2. Keoladeo National Park
3. Manas Wild life Sanctuary
4. Sunderbans National Park
5. Nandadevi National Park
Foreign visits 16.22.0 Shri P, Shiv Shanker, Minister for Human Resource Development, visited London is the representative of India at the function. During his stay in London, the Ministry also held discussions with the Secretary-General, Common wealth, on the Distance Education Programme of the Organisation He also discussed questions relating to the display of Indian Art materials at the British Museum and financial assistance for the purpose with the concerned authorities. The Minister also paid a visit
153
to the British Open University and other premier Institutions ill London. Shri R.C. Tripathi, Joint secretary, Department of Culture and Shri Abhimanyu Singh, Director, University and Higher Education Division, Department of Education, accompanied the Minister.
Visitors from abroad 16.23.0
-- Mr. Pierre Lesueur, Secretary-General, World Federation of Unesco Clubs and Associations visited India and called on the Secretary of the Indian National Commission.
- His Excellency, Gilberto Bonalumi, Italian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on his visit to India, met Shri L.P. Shahi, Minister of State (Education), on 30th March, 1989, and discussed matters regarding scholarships and professional training Courses.
- Mr. E.G. Whitlam, former Prime Minister of Australia visited India in May, 1989, to discuss matters regarding 25th General Conference of Unesco.
- Mr. Mohd Asinov, President of the Unesco Committee of Studies of Culture of Central Asia visited New Delhi and met Secretary, Indian National Commission on May 30, 1989.
- Dr. M. Makagiansar, former Asstt. Director-General and Director, Principal Regional office for Asia and Pacific visited India during the month of August 1989. During his stay in Delhi from 7th to 9th August, Mr. Makagiansar visited NCERT and NIEPA. He paid a courtsey call on Minister for Human Resource Development, Minister of State (Culture), Minister of External Affairs, Minister of State for Science and Technology, and Secretary-General, Indian National Commission.
- Hon'ble Mr. John Dawkins, Australian Minister for Employment, Education and Training, visited India in September 1989, and discussed matters of bilateral cooperation in the field of Education with Shri L.P. Shahi, Minister of State ( Education ).
Contribution to Unesco's Budget 16.24.0 Each Member State of Unesco contributes in the Unesco's Regular Budget for each biennium. India's share of contribution as per approved scale of contribution for 1988-1989 was fixed at 0.34 per cent of the total budget of Unesco for the biennium. Accordingly, India made a contribution of Rs. 2.59 crores to Unesco during this period.
Auroville 16.25.1 The Management of Auroville was taken over by the Central Government under the Auroville (Emergency) Provision Act, 1980, for a temporary period with a view to overcoming certain problems which had cropped up due to mismanagement of the project. Under Govt. management, the township has undergone significant development. In order to making long term arrangement for the proper management and further development of Auroville and also for the purpose of encouraging, continuing and consolidating the vanous activities, it is proposed to constitute a body corporate called the Auroville Foundation. For this purpose, the Parliament enacted Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, which came into force on September 28, 1988. Under this Act, the Auroville Foundation will be constituted by the Central Government which will comprise a Government Board, Resident Assembly and Auroville International Advisory Council. Till the time the Foundation is set up, all properties in Auroville vest in the Custodian appointed by the Government. For the purpose of enabling the Foundation to discharge its functions under the Act, the Central Government may pay to the Foundation such sums of money as the Government consider necessary by way of grant, loans or otherwise.
16.25.2 A scheme for development of Auroville in the educational sector was included in the Seventh Five Year Plan with an outlay of Rs. 35.55 lakhs. The scheme reflected three important concerns (i) need for continuing education commencing from earliest stages of childhood; (ii) need for synthesis of knowledge and culture; (iii) need to provide a stable base for all round development of Auroville and surrounding villages. Under this scheme, a sum of Rs. 29,60,000/- has already been released to the Auroville Trust. By the end of the year, another sum of Rs. 4,37,000/- would been released.
154