DEVELOPMENT OF SANSKRIT AND OTHER CLASSICAL LANGUAGES
DEVELOPMENT OF SANSKRIT AND OTHER CLASSICAL LANGUAGES Sanskrit is not only a classical language, but also a repository of our cultural heritage. Preservation, propagation and development of this heritage is therefore essential. The Government of India have formulated various schemes/programs for the development of Sanskrit education in pursuance of the National Policy on Education (1986) and as per 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India. These programmes/schemes are being implemented through the following agencies:
1. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.
2. Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Vidya Vidya Pratishthan.
3. Central Plan Scheme for Development of Sanskrit Educational through State Governments (including Academy of Sanskrit Research, Melkote and others).
RASHTRIYA SANSKRIT SANSTHAN The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan an autonomous organisation registered under the Societies' Registration Act 1860 (Act XXI of 1860) was established in October 1970 under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education for the development preservation and promotion of Sanskrit learning in the country. It is fully funded by the Govt. of India.
The major objective of the Sansthan is to develop promote and encourage Sanskrit learning and research and to serve as a Central administrative and co-ondinating machinery for the development of Sanskrit. For achieving these objectives, the Sansthan has undertaken the programmes (1) to establish Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas in different States, (2) conduct teaching of Sanskrit on traditional lines at secondary, undergraduate, graduate, poost-graduate and doctorate levels, (3) provide teacher- training at B.Ed level, (4) conduct and coordinate research work in various disciplines of Sanskrit learning, (5) conduct examinations and confer certificates and degrees at school and university levels, (6) establish Sanskrit libraries, Manuscripts Collection Centre, and (7) publication of rare books in Sanskrit. The Sansthan is implementing various other schemes/ programmes for promotion, propagation and development of Sanskrit. These schemes will also continue during the IXth Five Year Plan. Following are the schemes/programmes of the Sansthan.
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A. ON GOING SCHEMES - (REVIEW AND PROJECTIONS
(a) Establishment of Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas All on-going schemes of the Sansthan have been reviewed in 1995 by the Review Committees of Sansthan. The Working SubGroup on Sanskrit has also recommended these schemes for 9th Plan.
The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is running and managing seven Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas (KSVs) located at Jammu, Jaipur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Puri, Guruvayoor and Sringeri. The objective of these Vidyapeethas is to provide facilities to study the Sanskrit language upto Postgraduate level through regular courses of Prathama, Purvamadhyama, Uttar Madhyama, Prak Shastri, Shastri, Acharya, Shiksha Shastri, Vidyavaridhi and Vachaspati. The students of the Visyapeethas are provided scholarship at different levels. The teaching includes teaching from Prak-Shastri to Acharya level, teachers; training for the award of Shiksha Shastri degree which is equivalent to B.Ed in Sanskrit as one of the important professional and academic course for the benefit of Sanskrit students. The Ganganath Jha KSV, Allahabad is exclusively meant for carrying out research in selected branches. It provides the degree of Vidyawaridhi which is equivalent to Ph.D in the general stream of the education. The Ganganath Jha KSV brings out Ganganath Jha Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha Research Journal from the Vidyapeetha itself at Allahabad.
Six Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas are being provided recurring grant under non-plan budgets of the Ministry whereas Sringeri Vidyapeetha is receiving recurring grant from the Ministry under Plan budget. The research activities of the Vidyapeetha also include publication, re-print of out-of-print books, rare books and special projects, such as dictionary and various commentaries on vedas and dictionary of vedic grammar. The Sansthan will continue to maintain these Vidyapeethas in 9th Plan period also.
In the 8th Plan establishment of seven KSVs was proposed. of these only one KSV was established at Sringeri during 1992-93. For 1996-97 i.e. the last year of the 8th Plan, three KSVs at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) have been approved for the establishment by the Governing Council of the Sansthan and the Ministry. The remaining three targetted KSVs for the 8th Plan could not be established for lack of approval of funds from the Ministry of Finance, although budget provisions were made on an adhoc basis for this purpose.
During 9th Plan the Sansthan has proposed to establish five KSVs at Somaiya Trust, Mumbai, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Bhatinda (Punjab) and Baghola (Haryana). Of these, the Shashi Parishad of the Sansthan has approved establishment of KSV at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai. The proposals of other four KSVs will be placed before the Governing Council of the Sansthan for approval.
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The establishment of one KSV requires non-recurring expenditure of Rs.2.5 crores for the period of five years Besides, recurring expenditure of Rs. 30.00 lakhs per annum is involved. Thus the total expenditure on one KSV during the 9th Plan will be Rs.4.00 received and crores (non-recurring) and total expenditure for 5 KSVs will be Rs.20.00 crores (Rs.12.50 non-recurring and Rs.7.50 crores recurring). Accordingly, the budget in the 9th Plan will be required as under:
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-200.2 Total
200.00 280.00 380.00 500.00 640.00 2000.00
(b) Construction of Buildings of existing Vidyapeethas This scheme has been recommended by the working subgroup for 9th Plan. The review reveals that in the 8th Plan the Sansthan had proposed to construct the building of the headquarters of the Sansthan at New Delhi and of KSV, Guruvayur besides construction of boundary wall of four KSVs at Jammu, Jaipur, Lucknow and Puri. The building of the Sansthan has been completed. The building of KSV at Guruvayur has also been completed with a total cost of Rs.2.19 crores. The original estimate of the cost of the building was Rs.1.10 crores but subsequently the CPWD demanded enhanced amount. Out of this enhanced amount final payment of Rs.55,39,000/- was made on 31.3.96 with the approval of Vice-Chairman of the Sansthan. The works Committee of the Sansthan is going into the details for the enhanced cost of construction of the building demanded by the CPWD. Boundary wall of three KSVs at Jammu, Jaipur and Lucknow have also been completed and the boundary wall of the fourth Vidyapeetha i.e. at Puri is expected to be completed in the current financial year.
In the 9th Plan the Sansthan has proposed to construct the buildings of the KSVs at Sringeri, Puri, Lucknow, Jammu and Jaipur. The building of the KSV, Puri has been declared as unsafe to house the Vidyapeetha and it is uneconomic to repair the building. The Project reports for the construction of these buildings have been received from the CPWD in the Sansthan. Therefore the construction of these buildings is essential in 9th Plan.
For the purpose of construction of buildings of 5 KSVs mentioned above, the following plan out-lay is proposed for the 9th Plan:
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(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
250.00 275.00 300.00 325.00 350.00 1500.00
(C) Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya/Shodh Sansthan The scheme has been recommended by the Working Sub group on Sanskrit language. Under the scheme of financial assistance to Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya/Shodh Sansthans, 16 institutions are getting 95% recurring grant and 75% non recurring grant from Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan. In 8th Plan it was proposed to recognise additional 7 Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas for financial under this scheme. of these only two Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas could be recognised for financial assistance at Hulasganj (Bihar) and Bangalore. But during 1995-96 two Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas have been de-recognised i.e. KSR Madras & NSASN Kanchipuram. Thus number of the recognised Mahavidyalayas remeined 16 in 1995-96. In the year 1996-97 two additional ASMS are proposed to be recognised by the Sansthan for financial assistance at Varanasi and Kanchipuram. These proposals are lying with the Sansthan. Under the scheme 95% recurring grant for salary of staff and 75% non recurring grant for development is sanctioned to each ASM.
For IXth Five Year Plan it is proposed to recognise ten such Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas/Shodh Sansthans under the scheme. The proposals are pending with the Sansthan. These proposals will be placed before the Shashi Parishad of the Sansthan for approval. Each of the recognised ASM requires recurring grant of Rs. 10.00 lakhs and non-recurring grant of Rs. 2.00 lakhs per annum. For this purpose the following plan budget is proposed under the scheme.
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
100.00 150.00 200.00 250.00 300.00 1000.00
(d) Financial Assistance to Voluntary Sanskrit Organisation Financial assistance to the limit of 75% of the approved expenditure is sanctioned to Voluntary Sanskrit organisations towards the payment of salary of teachers, Scholarship, Purchase of Library Books, Furniture and other non recurring expenditure. In the VIIIth Five Year Plan the number of these voluntary organisations increased from 600 to 750. Under the scheme financial grant to the VOs is considered through the GIAC in the Sansthan on the recommendations of the concerned State Governments. There is demand for increase in the salary of
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teachers due to rise in the cost of price at the parity of the salary in comparable Sanskrit institutions in States i.e. from Rs.600/-p.m. to Rs. 3000/-p.m. The celling of Rs.600/- was fixed long ago in the ministry.
Accordingly in the IXth Five Year Plan the poroposal is to increase the salary of teachers in two scales one is undergraduate teachers in the comparable scale available to the PGTs in aided schools i.e. Rs.1640-2800 and the other scale in the equivalent to Lecturer in higher educational institutions i.e. Rs.2200-4000. There is justification to enhance the salary of teachers so as to provide them atleast the amount on which they can survive on the following rates.
Under-graduate teachers PGT Rs.2000/-p.M.
Teachers at higher Education Rs.3000/-p.m. level.
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Accordingly the following plan budget is proposed under the scheme.
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
300.00 350.00 400.00 450.00 500.00 2000.00
(e)Utilisation of retired Sanskrit scholars. The scheme has been recommended by the Working Sub-Group on Sanskrit Language. Under this scheme, the services of eminent retired Sanskrit scholars is utilised by providing them appointment in the Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas/vidyapeethas of the Sansthan and other such Sanskrit institutions for a period of two years which is extendible for another one year. The selection of Sanskrit scholars is made by the GIAC. The objective of this scheme is to preserve the indepth studies of different subjects relating to studies in Sanskrit and to utilise scholarly knowledge of the Sanskrit scholars. This scheme has been continuing in the VIIIth Five Year Plan and will also continue in the IXth Five Year Plan. The rate of remuneration being paid to the Sanskrit scholars is Rs.1000/-p.m. There has been a demand from the Sanskrit scholars for an increase in remuneration. To examine various aspects, the Sansthan constituted a Review, Committee which inter-alia reviewed this scheme also. It has recommended that the amount of honorarium presently being paid to these scholars may be revised to Rs.2500/- so that these scholars may concentrate on scholarly work. At present under the scheme 125 scholars are being benefited. on the basis of the recommendations of the Review Committee the following plan budget is proposed under this scheme.
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 250.00
(f) Vocational Training Scheme The scheme has been recommended by the Working Sub-group on Sanskrit language. Sanskrit institutions are provided financial assistance for organising short term vocational training for the students. About 40 students per class for 21 days training is provided under this programme. For this purpose 15 institutions are getting grant for providing training on Jyotish, Karam Kand, Paleography, Manuscriptology, Codification, Sanskrit Shorthand and typewriting and computer training. This programme has been continuing in the VIIIth Five Year Plan and will also continue in the IXth Five Year Plan. For this scheme
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the plan budget is proposed as follows:-
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00 30.00
(g) Book Purchase Scheme The scheme has been recommended by the Working Sub Group on Sanskrit language. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan has been giving grant to individuals/publishers/organisations for printed books (general books of reference) on account of purchase from authors/publishers for free of cost for distributions among the Sanskrit institutions and libraries to encourage the authors and publishers and the Sanskrit literature. For the implementation of the scheme during VIIIth Five Year Plan, it has revealed that the printing cost of publication and paper has gone up. Therefore to ensure the good paper and quality of work there is a need to increase budget on this account in the scheme. For 9th Plan the following budget plan is proposed for the scheme.
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
25.00 28.00 30.00 32.00 35.00 150.00
(h) Financial assistance for Production of Sanskrit Literature
The scheme has been recommended by the Working SubGroup on Sanskrit language. Financial assistance is provided to scholars for production of research work and original writings in Sanskrit. This scheme also covers the publication of journals to improve their quality and contents. This scheme has been continue in the VIIIth Five Year Plan and will also continue in the IXth Five Year Plan. There is an increase in the cost of printing, printing material and there is demand to enhance the budget under this scheme. The following budget plan is proposed accordingly.
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 20000-2001 2001-2002 Total
25.00 28.00 30.00 32.00 35.00 150.00
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(i) Purchase and publication of rare Sanskrit Manuscripts The scheme has been recommended by the Working Group on Sanskrit language. 100% financial grant is given to scholars for the publication such rare manuscripts of different shastras of Sanskrit which are rarely available with the scholars in various parts of the country. This scheme is providing a good treasurer for the Sanskrit through the preservance and publication of these manuscripts. This scheme will also continue in the IXth Five Year Plan. The following budget proposals is suggested:-
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 20.00
(j) All India Elocution Contest The scheme has been recommended by the Working SubGroup on Sanskrit language. The scheme of preservation of oral tradition of vedic recitation through Elocution Contest is very old scheme and being implemented through Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan. The main objective of the scheme is to encourage the oriental talents of students studying in traditional Sanskrit pathshalas in various branches of learning. Under this scheme an honorarium of Rs.1000/- to 1250/-p.m. to Swadhyayean and two students are being provided Rs.175/- per month each. This scheme will also continue in IXth Five Year Plan. It is also proposed to organise four regional elocution contest and literary competition each year. The additional amount to cover the elocution contest and four literary competitions each year will involve an expenditure of Rs.10.00 lakhs. This scheme has been very useful for the development of the Sanskrit. Accordingly in the IXth Five Year Plan the following budget plan are suggested:-
(Rupees in lakhs)
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
7.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 9.00 40.00