16.2.6 H.E. Mr. Patrick Pillay, Minister of Education and Culture, Republic of Seychelles visited India from 30 August to 8 September, 1996 under the ICCR's Distinguished Visitors Programme. Mr. Pillay called on the Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri S.R.Bommai, on September 3, 1996. The main purpose of his visit was to identify some of the Indian Institutions where students from Seychelles could study particularly in the fields of MBA, financing, accountancy and vocational training.

16.2.7 Ms. Vrinda Swarup, Director represented the Department of Education in the Third SAARC Ministerial Conference on South Asian Children, held in Islamabad, Pakistan during 20-22 August, 1996.

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16.2.8 H.E. Amanda Vanstone, Minister of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Government of Australia accompanied by her husband and a four member Educational Delegation visited India during 23-26 October, 1996. During their visit, the Delegation attended the "Australia-India: New Horizons in Education and Training" Conference. Australian Education Minister also called oil the Hon'ble Shri S.R. Bommai, Minister of Human Resource Development at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi to discuss modalities of cooperation between the two countries in the educational field.

Auroville Foundation

16.3.0 The Government of India took over the management of Auroville in 1980 under the Auroville (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1980 for encouraging, continuing development and better management and consolidating the activities of Auroville. The Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 was passed by Parliament and the Act came into force w.e.f 28th September, 1988. According to the provisions of the Act, grants are to be given by the Government of India to the Foundation for meeting the expenditure on the establishment, maintenance and development of Auroville with the following important components:

(i) need for continuing education commencing from earliest stage of childhood, and

(ii) need for synthesis of knowledge and Culture" and

(iii) need to provide a stable base for all round development of Auroville and surrounding villages.

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