ACTIVITIES IN COMMON AND CLEARING HOUSE FUNCTIONS
In this chapter are described mainly those programmes of the Ministry
which represent its coordinating role and the clearing house functions of
the Union Government in the field of education. With such programmes are
grouped some that do not strictly fall in line with the nature of activities
described in earlier chapters.
ACTIVITIES IN COMMON
Scheme of Assistance for Research The Scheme aims at resolving problems relating to formulation, imple-
Projects in Educational Policies, mentation and evaluation of educational development programmes and en-
Planning, Management and Evalua- ables organisations/institutions to undertake short duration action-oriented
tion studies which have a direct hearing on policy, planning and management
of educational system. Nearly 13 Projects/Research studies have been
approved for implementation. during 1981-82. The Topics/Research stu-
dies are scrutinised/approved by a, Screening Committee comprising Inter-
Departmental Officers.
Conference of Education Ministers The Conference of the Education Ministers of all States and Union
of States and Union Territories Territories was held on June 2, 1981.
The focus of discussions in this conference was on the implementation
of the educational development perspectives and programmes as incorporat-
ed in the Sixth Plan document which had received the approval of the Na-
tional Development Council early in that year.
Important highlights of the resolutions adopted at the conference are
(i) The conference endorsed the Plan to achieve in a 10-year period
universal elementary education through formal and non-formal
education. In the Sixth Plan, emphasis will be on the primary
stage and in the succeeding plan on the middle stage. The
conference also underscored the need to reduce the high inci-
dence of drop-out.
(ii) Reviewing the adoption of the 10+2 pattern of school educa-
tion, the conference called for an early completion of the pro-
cess of change over to this pattern in the States and Union
Territories which have not yet done so. Stressing the importance
of vocationalisation at the +2 stage, the conference recom-
mended a time-bound programme for the conduct of surveys,
preparation of curricula, institution of courses, teacher training
etc.
(iii) The conference endorsed the recommendations of the last meet-
ing of the All India Council for Technical Education held on
April 21, 1981. The more important of these recommenda-
tions are that all proposals for expansion of facilities-for tech-
nical education in the States should be based on scientific sur-
vey of manpower needs and should follow the guidelines given
by the All India Council for Technical Education. The proposal
to give statutory status to the Council was endorsed. It also
wanted the strengthening of the programme of community poly-
technics and the greater involvement of engineering and techni-
cal institutions in solving rural problems.
(iv) The conference received and approved the recommendations of
the Conference or Vice-Chancellors of Universities held on May
30, 1981 and these include :
(a) All universities should undertake restructuring of courses
at the undergraduate level to make them more relevant
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and purposeful. Such reform is necessary consequent to the reforms in the school stage.
(b) Setting up of a Co-ordination Board for every State for a co-ordinated development of higher education and close collaboration between the Universities, University Grants Commission and State Governments.
(c) Maximum utilisation of existing facilities, increasing the number of working days of the universities and colleges, developing a uniform code of ethics for teachers and en- suring reservation for Scheduled castes/Scheduled tribes to the prescribed level.
(v) Dealing with the need to promote national integration and the role of education in this regard, all the States and Union Terri- tories undertook to carry out a review of textbooks from the national integration angle expeditiously.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Budget Estimates
(Rs. in lakhs)
Particulars Budget Revised Budget
Estimates Estimates Estimates
1981-82 1981-82 1982-83
Demand No. 25
Department of Education.
Secretariat of the Department, including the
Pay and Accounts Offices, hospitality and
entertainment. 2,15.37 2,21.97 2,32.76
Demand No. 26-Education Provision for
General Education, other Revenue expenditure
of the Department including provisions for
grant-in-aid to States/Union Territories on
Central/Centrally Sponsored Schemes (Plan)
and also provision for loans for construction
of hostels etc., and other educational loans for
Central & Centrally Sponsored Schemes. 295,51.19 289,78.98 326,03.65
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE
The budget provisions for 1981-82 and 1982-83 for the. Department
of Culture are as under :-
(Rs. in lakhs
Particulars Budget Revised Budget
Estimates Estimates Estimates
1981-82 1981-82 1982-83
Demand No. 27-
Department of Culture 14,80.10 14,80.10 15,66.79
Demand No. 28-
Archaeology. 7,56.50 7,56.50 7,99.48
Audit Observations and Inspection The Ministry continued its concerted efforts to clear the outstanding
Reports observations and Inspection Paras. As against 3316 audit observations made
up to March, 1980 but outstanding on 31st August, 1980 and 3194 inspec-
tion paras which were included in the Comptroller and Auditor General's
Report for the year 1979-80, the Ministry cleared 684 audit observations and
708 inspection paras till 31st March, 1981.
Efforts are being continued to clear the remaining outstanding observa-
tions and paras.
Observance of Orders regarding A special Cell exists in the Ministry to ensure that the reservation orders
Reservation in Posts and Services relating to the appointments of members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
for Scheduled Castes/Schedules Tribes in the Departments of Education and Culture are strictly observed.
Tribes.
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Information required by the Department of Personnel and Administra- tive Reforms/The Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was collected from the various Divisions of the Ministry dealing with the Subordinate Offices/Autonomous Organisations. This was scrutinised and consolidated for onward transmission to the authorities concerned. Annual statement on the following subjects are required to be sent to the concerned authorities:-
(i) Arrangement for training of Class I Officers belonging to Sche- duled Castes/Scheduled Tribes.
(ii) Statements concerning the representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in posts and services.
(iii) Statement regarding posts filled by deputation.
(iv) Statement regarding dereservation of reserved vacancies for Sche- duled Castes and Scheduled Tribes included in the roster for purely temporary appointments.
(v) Representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in posts filled on ad-hoc basis.
(vi) Concession allowed to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes stu- dents in technical education and other educational institutions under the control of the Ministry.
(vii) Information collected regarding nomination of Liaison Officers in the various subordinate offices under the control of the Minis- try.
(viii) Examination of the proposals received from the various offices under the control of the Ministry for the dereservation of posts. and services.
(ix) Statement of supersession of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Central services.
(x) Statement for posts filled by promotion.
(xi) Representation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in servi- ces--Appointments to posts filled by deputation or transfer.
(xii) Annual Report of the Inspection of Rosters maintained for providing reservation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
(xiii) Representation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes of posts and services under the Voluntary Agencies receiving grants-in- aid from the Government.
(xiv) Report on the representation to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in Statutory Bodies under the Department of Education,
(xv) Report on the premature retirement of employees belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
(xvi) Report of inclusion of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes mem- bers in the Departmental Committees/Selection Boards.
(xvii) Representation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in the CSS, CSSS and CSCS.
(xviii) Report of in-service training of candidates belonging to Schedul- ed Castes/Scheduled Tribes selected on relaxed standards.
Progressive Use of Hindi According to the bilingual policy, every Central Government employee is free to use Hindi or English for his official work. However, all the officers in the Ministry and its attached and subordinate offices are requested from time to time to encourage their Hindi knowing staff to increase the use of Hindi for their notes and drafts. About 73 per cent of the officers and staff of the Ministry have working knowledge of Hindi. Hindi is being partially used in noting and drafting in 39 Sections/Units out of 117 Sections/Units. At present 50 Hindi typewriters are available in the Ministry.
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So far, 187 Forms and Manuals of this Ministry have been translated
into Hindi.
The Work relating to translation of Acts and Statutes has been com-
pleted.
Ten Workshops were conducted to impart training in Noting and Draft-
ing in Hindi to Hindi knowing employees of the Ministry.
A Hindi Salahkar Samiti has been set up for the Ministry of Education
and Culture under the Chairmanship of Union Education Minister, to
advise the Ministry on matters relating to the progressive use of Hindi for
official purposes.
Supply of White Printing Paper The scheme for allocation of white printing paper at controlled rate to
at controlled rate for Educational State Governments and Union Territories was continued during the year
Purposes under report. The price of paper rose to Rs 4200/- per tonne ex-
mill. On account of lesser production of paper by the mills due to short-
age of power and non-availability of railway wagons etc., only 1,44,685
tonnes of paper could be allotted during the year 1981-82 to the State
Governments and Union Territories.
Import of Paper from Norway
Under the bilateral agreement with the Government of Norway, com-
modity assistance worth Rs. 2 crores of paper is expected during 1981-82.
The paper is generally earmarked for the production of school textbooks by
the NCERT.
CLEARING HOUSE FUNCTIONS
Statistics A High Level Committee consisting of representatives from the Minis,-
try, National Council of Educational Research and Training, University
Grants Commission, Central Statistical Organisation, Planning Commission,
Education Departments of some of the States and non-official members
was constituted to review the entire educational statistical system in the
country. The terms of reference of the Committee are as under
(i) To prepare a perspective plan for the improvement of the
educational statistics and their utilisation in policy-making,
planning and administration at all levels.
(ii) To propose the methodology for collecting data on various
items and to spell out the role of different agencies in-
volved in data collection so that duplication of efforts is avoid-
ed and the relevant data, are made available with minimum of
resources.
(iii) To suggest the type of schedules to be used for data collec-
tion, from primary sources and the record to be maintained at
different levels so as to help in efficient collection of informa-
tion.
(iv) To propose measures for improving the quality and timely
presentation of data.
(v) To suggest the changes in the infrastructure at the central and
state levels and the norms for staff, etc., in order to bring about
the above improvements.
(vi) To suggest training and orientation programme at all levels for
ensuring proper collection and use of data.
(vii) To suggest short-term measures for improving the existing system
on the basis of the discussions held with the high officials by
personal visits of members of the Committee to some of the
States.
The Ministry deputed a team of members of the High Level Committee
to visit the States of Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir to review their system of
planning, monitoring and statistics. The Committee is likely to submit its
report by end of March, 1982.
The data for the following studies is being collected :
1. Correspondence courses in India.