INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION WITH UNESCO
Cooperation between India India is one of the founder-members of the United Nations
and Unesco Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, better known as
UNESCO, which was established with Headquarters in Paris in November,
1946. During the year under report, India continued to play a leading
role in the matters relating to Unesco.
38th session of the A high-powered delegation led by Smt. Sheila Kaul. Minister of State
International Conference on for Education and Social Welfare, and comprising Smt. Anna R. Malhotra,
Education Secretary, Ministry of Education and Culture; Shri M. Rasgotra,
Ambassador of India to France and the Permanent Representative of
India to Unesco; Prof. C. S. Jha, Educational Adviser (Technical), and
Shri S. Sathyam, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education and Culture, as
members participated in the 38th session of the International Conference
on Education which was convened by Unesco, a Geneva from November
10-19, 1981. The discussions at this Conference centered round the
examination of global problems, the challenges that they pose and the
responses that the member states which are responsible, for education
have to make in order to meet these challenges. The Conference also
reviewed the major trends in education in different countries around the
world, exchanged information on significant national developments, consi-
dered educational problems and priorities in educational research and
examined modes of interaction between education and productive work.
Smt. Sheila Kaul, Education Minister, addressed the plenary session of
the Conference on November 11, 1981. In the course of her address,
she emphasised the problem of development and the role of education in
fostering a value system, and called upon the international community
to lend full support to Unesco's programme for fostering a just World
Economic Order, based on values of equality, solidarity and 'mutual res-
pect. Sint. Anna R. Malhotra, Prof. C. S. Jha and Shri S. Sathyam
took keen interest in the detailed discussions which took place in the
meetings of the two Commissions set up by the, Conference. Many of
the suggestions made by the members of the Indian delegation in the
course of discussions in the Commission meetings were aceepted by the
Conference in its concluding session. Shri Sathyam. also participated in
the meeting of the Evaluation Group of the work done by the Interna-
tional Bureau of Education, of which India had been elected as a member
and made a notable contribution to the future orientation in the activities
of the International Bureau of Education
Executive Board of Unesco Shri T. N. Kaul, India's Member on the Executive Board of Unesco,
participated in the meetings of the Executive Board and the Special
Committee held during the year. He was assisted in the discussion at
the Executive Board meeting by Shri M. Rasgotra, India's Ambassador
to France and Permanent Delegate of India to Unesco, Shri G. V. Rao,
Honorary Adviser to the Permanent Delegation of India to Unesco. and
Shri Inam Rahman, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to Unesco
who joined this post in Paris towards the end of November, 1981. Some
of the important, problems which came tip for detailed discussion in the
Executive Board meetings during the year under report related to the
preparation for the Second Mediurn-Term Plan of Unesco covering
1984-89, eradication of illiteracy, and promotion of the development of
science and technology in the Third World Countries.
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International Programme for Shri G. Parthasarthy who had been elected as India's nominee on
Development of Communication the Intergovernmental Council for Unesco's Programme for Development
of Communication at the 21st session of the General Conference held
in Belgrade in September-October, 1980, attended the first meeting of
the Council held at Paris from June 15-22, 1981. He was assisted at
this meeting by Shri J. K. Battacharya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting. This meeting considered the question of
evolving a suitable system of finances and resources required for the
implementation of Unesco's Programme for Development of Communica-
tion and examined suggestions for ensuring reciprocal consultation and
better coordination between Member States on the hand and Unesco
on the other. The second meeting of the Council was held in Mexico from
January 18-25, 1982, which was also attended by Shri G. Parthasarthy and
Shri J. K. Bhattacharya.
International Congress on Science Prof. C. S. Jha, Educational Adviser (Technical), Ministry of Educa-
and Technology Education and tion and Culture, participated as India's representative in the International
National Development Congress on. Science and Technology Education and National Develop.
ment which was convened by Unesco in Paris from November 23 to
December 22, 1981. Unesco had also invited Prof. Rais Ahmed of the
Department of Physics, Aligarh Muslim University, as a participant in
this Congress at Unesco's cost. Dr. Krishna Sane of the Department
of Chemistry, University of Delhi, was also invited by Unesco as an
Observer. Dr. Sane is in-charge of Unesco-assisted project in the field
of Chemistry Education in India. Both Prof. Rais Ahmed and Dr.
Krishna Sane also attended the meeting.
Prof Rais Ahmed was elected Chairman of the Congress. This was a
signal honour for India. Prof. Rais Ahmed's election was facilitated by the
fact that he was a member of the Indian delegation which attended the 1979
United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development
which was held in Vienna.
Many suggestions made by the Indian delegation on various issues which
were discussed in the Congress were accepted. Mention may be made in
this connection of the following proposals made by the Indian delegation
and accepted by the Congress:-
(1) Unesco should contribute to clarifying the concept of technology
teaching within the framework of general education, and the way
it should be organized for the purposes of endogeneous develop-
ment. In this connection, it is also suggested that the techno-
logical component should be strengthened from the point of view
of integrated science teaching at the primary and secondary
levels.
(2) In each country there should be at least one focal point the
function of which would be to promote exchanges of ideas and
information in the field of science and technology teaching, and
that in addition, scientific societies, national teachers associations
and other appropriate national institutions should play a key
role in the circulation of these innovative ideas and of the con-
clusions of this Congress.
(3) Unesco, should increase the number of, and strengthen, its re-
gional seminars to improve science and technology education,
and also that the scientific and technological components of
education should be given prominence in regional conferences
of Ministers of Education organised by Unesco.
Unesco Meeting on the Role of India collaborated with Unesco in organising an International Meeting
Women in the Education of of Experts on the Role of Women in the Education of Young People for
Young People for Peace, Peace, Mutual Understanding and Respect for Human Rights at New Delhi
Mutual Understanding and from December 7-11, 1981. The organising responsibility for this meeting
Respect for Human Rights was assumed by the University Grants Commission. Dr. (Mrs.) Madhuri
Shah, Chairman, University Grants Commission, was elected Chairman of
the meeting. The meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India.
The valedictory address was delivered by Smt. Sheila Kaul, Minister of State
for Education and Social Welfare. The participants to this Meeting includ-
ed more than 20 countries drawn from different regions of the world. In
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addition, Unesco, had invited observers from U.N. Organizations and inter-
national non-governmental organisations.
In her inaugural address, the Prime Minister expressed her happiness that
the stress of the Meeting was op. "responsibility" and not merely on "rights
She made several suggestions on the role which women can play in the edu-
cation of young people not only as mothers and teachers but also, as mem-
bers of the society. The suggestions made by the Prime Minister were
repeatedly referred to by the participants from different countries and found
a basis in the major recommendations which were adopted by the Meet-
ing.
Contributions to Unesco The Government of India's contribution to Unesco's Budget covering
the period 1981-1983 has been fixed at 0.59 percent of the total Budget of
Unesco as adopted at the last General Conference held in September-Octo-
ber, 1980. India's contribution amounts to US $ 3,525,132 during the
period. The contribution to Unesco is being paid regularly in a phased
manner.
New Structures and Composition In view of the rapid expansion in the scope and content of Unesco's
of the Indian National Commission Programme, the Government of India reviewed the existing Constitution of
for Cooperative with Unesco Unesco with particular reference to the provisions of the Charter of the
National Commissions for Unesco which had been adopted by the General
Conference of Unesco held in Paris in October-November, 1978. This
Charter envisaged enlarged purposes and functions which could be under-
taken by each National Commission. The Government decided to reconsti-
tute the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco with effect
from the November 24, 1981. The functions of the Commission have been
enlarged to include the following:-
(a) promoting understanding of the objectives and purposes of
Unesco among the people of India;
(b) serving as a liaison agency between the Government of India
and the institutions concerned with and working for the advance-
ment of education, science and culture.
(c) cooperating with the Government Departments/organisations and
institutions concerned with the questions within the Unesco's
competence;
(d) encouraging participation of national governmental and non-
governmental institutions and various institutions and individuals
in the formulation and execution of Unesco programmes so as
to secure for Unesco all the intellectual, scientific, artistic or
administrative assistance that it may require;
(e) collaborating with the National Commissions of Asia and the
Pacific 'and with Unesco Regional Offices and Centres in foster-
ing regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperation in the areas
of Unesco's competence through joint formulation and execution
of programmes
(f) disseminating information on the objectives, programme activi-
ties of Unesco and endeavouring to arouse public interest in
them; and
(g) advising the Government of India on matters relating to Unesco.
Smt. Sheila Kaul, Minister of State for Education and Social Welfare
in her capacity as the President of the Indian National Commission, has
nominated 41 Individual members and 51 'Institutional members of the new
Indian National. Commission for Cooperation with Unesco.
Strengthening the Activities of In order to enable the Indian National Commission to discharge its en-
the Indian National Commission larged functions and responsibilities in an adequate manner, it has been
decided to include in the Sixth Five-Year 'Plan a scheme for strengthening
the activities of the Commission with a total Plan outlay of Rs. 25 lakhs.
Of this total outlay, a provision of Rs. 6 lakhs has been included in the
Budget Estimates for 1982-83.
Participation in Unesco As in previous years, the Secretariat of the Indian National Commission
Meetings and other Activities continued to nominate experts to. participate in national, regional and inter-
national meetings convened by or on behalf of Unesco, play a leading role
in coordinating Unesco Club Movement in the country, and publishing Hindi
and Tamil editions of world famous Unesco magazine "Courier". The
Secretariat of the Commission also continued to sanction grant-in-aid to
voluntary organisations interested in spreading the message of Unesco,
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