The anticipated expenditure during the VIII Plan is Rs.2.85 crores.

Financial assistance to Voluntary Orqanisations for Promotion of Sindhi including programme for production of books in Sindhi and Sindhi Vikas Board

6.4.10 The Ministry launched a programme for production of standard literature in Sindhi in 1975. It is being implemented through the Sindhi Unit set up in the Central Hindi Directorate. The activities covered include free distribution of sindhi books, award to Sindhi writers, evolution of terminology, workshops, seminars, etc.

6.4.11 To speed up the implementation of production of books in Sindhi and development of Sindhi language, Sindhi Advisory Committee has been set up.

6.4.12 The proposal for establishment of Sindhi Vikas Board could not be approved during the last Plan. There is Wide-spread demand for establishment of this Board during the ensuing Plan.

6.4.13 A total of Rs.1.00 crores is proposed for above Sindhi schemes during VIII Plan.

Scheme of Financial Assistance to English Teaching Institutes and District Centres for English. RIEs and Publication in English

6.4.14 The horizons of human knowledge are widening at a

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breath-taking pace, specially in the sphere of science and technology. India must kept abreast with this development and must make its positive contribution to it also. This objective can be materialised only when adequate emphasis is laid on the learning and teaching of the English language right from school stage. The observation of the 1964-66 Education Commission that "English should be the most useful library language in higher education and our most significant window on the world..." must be translated into action as regards the formulation and implementation of our educational policy. 6.4.15 The Programme of Action formulated under the NPE 1986 aimed at improving language competency of students in English, called for development of textual. material, teacher-training and research in methodology of language teaching, development of infrastructural facilities, designing of remedial courses for school and university students etc. The Policy of the Government in regard to the teaching of English is that it should be taught as one of the three languages as per the Three Language Formula in schools.

6.4.16 A major impediment in the way of efforts to improve eruditional standards in the inadequate competence of teachers in the teaching of English. The Central Institutes of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad is the nodal Advisory Body of the Government of India in the matter of English Language Teaching. Apart from its functions as a deemed university, it conducts training programmes for school teachers, implements, supervises and monitors the Government's programme for development of ELT in

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the country and develops teaching materials.

6.5 Schemes for English Language Teaching Development

6.5.1 Scheme of Financial Assistance to Regional Institutes of English and English Language Teaching Institutes

Under this scheme, assistance is extended to State Institutes of English and Regional Institutes of English (numbering 11) for augmentation of staff, payment of stipend in in-service training programmes, need based research, development of teaching materials etc., support for special programmes for tribal and rural areas, production of instructional materials, seminars, workshops, research, books, equipments etc.

Scheme of establishment of District Centres for English

6.5.2 Under this scheme financial assistance is given to the State Governments through the CTEFL, Hyderabad for establishment of District Centres. The main objective of the scheme is to bring about specific improvement in the standards of teaching/learning of English in India at the school level by giving saturation level training to teachers of English through the District Centres. So far, 25 District Centres have been sanctioned in as many States/UTs. About 5000 teachers have received training at these centres. During the 7th Plan, a sum of Rs. 64.00 lakhs was provided to the CIEFL, Hyderabad for implementation of this scheme. It is proposed to sanction atleast 25 more district centres under the scheme during the VIII Plan period.

6.5.3 Under the scheme for giving financial assistance for publication in Indian languages and in English, assistance to the extent of 80% of the cost of production is extended to

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individuals, organisations, etc. for publications in English. The current year's budget provision is Rs. 4.00 lakhs. 6.5.4 A provision of Rs.15.00 crores is proposed for VIII Plan for these schemes.

6.6 Promotion of Classical Languages

On-going Scheme

Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan

6.6.1 The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development set up for the propagation and development. of Sanskrit learning and research. During the last two decades of is existence, the Sansthan has made steady progress and has established 8 Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha 2 of which have been declared as a deemed to be Sanskrit University at Delhi and Tirupati. Besides, the Sansthan has undertaken some ongoing developmental programmes. During the Eighth Five Year Plan the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is expected to undertake some capital work for the construction of building and boundary walls of 4 Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha under its control and other developmental activities including establishment of 7 new Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas. The Sansthan will continue to implement the scheme of publication, purchase of books and production of Sanskrit literature scholarships for Sanskrit students, Scheme of Shastra Chudamani etc. Keeping in view the fulfilment of the commitment of the Sansthan, during the Eighth Five Year Plan, the outlay of 1500.00 lakhs is proposed.

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Financial Assistance to Voluntary Sanskrit Organisation/ Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya/Sodha Sansthan

6.6.2 Under the scheme of financial assistance to voluntary organisations about 600 registered voluntary organisations are being assisted upto 75% of the approved expenditure towards payment of salary, scholarships, purchases of library books, furniture and other such expenditure. There is an increasing demand from the voluntary organisations for such assistance. They are also demanding higher rates of salary for their teachers, as compared to Sanskrit teacher/lecturer in States. Teachers in voluntary Sanskrit organisations are low paid. 6.6.3 It is also felt that the potentialities of voluntary organisations must be fully utilised for promoting Sanskrit learning. Consequently under the Scheme of establishment of Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya/Sodh Sansthans 95% of recurring and 75% of non-recurring approved expenditure is given to 16 Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas/Sodh Sansthans. The scheme is to be expanded during the Eighth Five Year Plan as there has been an increased demand from voluntary organisations. It is therefore proposed that during the 8th Five Year Plan Adarsh Voluntary organisations will be recognised as New 7 Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya/Sodh Sansthan for financial assistance and the existing Mahavidyalaya will be developed. The Plan outlay of Rs.700.00 lakhs will be required.

Development of Sanskrit Education

6.6.4 Under the scheme State Governments are provided financial assistance for implementing their own programmes relating to the development, promotion and propagation of

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Sanskrit. As part of this scheme old and eminent Sanskrit Scholars in indigent circumstances are given financial assistance upto a maximum of Rs. 4000/- per year after taking into account their income from other sources. These scholars render free services in popularising and propagating sanskrit in traditional stream. The scheme is to be expanded and it is proposed to increase the number and amount of scholarship to students and assistance to sanskrit scholars in the indigent circumstances. To meet the requirement Rs. 350.00 lakh Plan allocation is proposed.

Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Vidvapeeth, New Delhi (Deemed to be University)

6.6.5 Out of 8 Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas run by the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, One vidyapeetha at Delhi has been converted and established as Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Vidyapeetha in 1987. Initially a token budget under the Plan was provided in the Seventh Plan. Since the university has started functioning from 1991 session and all developmental programmes are taken up in the Eighth Five Year Plan, Rs. 500.00 lakh Plan allocation is proposed.

Rashtriva Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati (Deemed to be University)

6.6.6 The Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha at Tirupati has also been given the status of deemed to be university in 1987. The Vidyapeetha has started functioning from the academic year, 1991 and it will undertake the development activities during the Eighth Five Year Plan. The Plan outlay of Rs. 400.00 lakhs for

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this Vidyapeetha during the Eighth Five Year Plan is proposed.

Preservation of Oral Tradition of Vedic Recitation (Elocution Contest)

6.6.7 The scheme of preservation of oral tradition of Vedic Recitation and Elocution Contest is being operated in the Ministry. This scheme provide for an honorarium of Rs.1250/- per month to Swadhyayeen and two students under his guidance. The students are given a stipend of Rs. 175/- per month. At present 14 such centres are working. Every year during the annual Vedic convention some vedic scholars are examined and brought under this scheme. The scheme has to be expanded and about 10-20 Swadhyayeen are expected to be selected additionally during the Eighth Five Year Plan. It is also proposed to increase the amount of honorarium to the Swadhyayins and scholarships to students in the Plan period. The Plan outlay of Rs. 100.00 lakh is proposed.

Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratishthan (Vedic Endowment)

6.6.8 The Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratishthan was set up in 1987 with a view to developing, propagating vedic learning and also developing linkages between vedic learning and modern scientific development. It is required to be supported by providing an amount of Rs. 10 crores to its corpus fund during the 8th Plan besides financial assistance for its development activities to be undertaken during the Eighth Plan. For this corpus fund an amount of Rs. 1.94 crores has already been provided upto 1991-92. The remaining balance of amount is required to be given in the Eighth Five Year Plan. The Plan outlay of Rs. 300.00 lakhs is required.

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Financial assistance to Voluntary Arabic and Persian Organisations

6.6.9 Under this scheme the main beneficiaries are about 200 Madarasas and Maktabs engaged in teaching Arabic and Persian. A grant upto 75% of the approved expenditure is given to the registered voluntary organisations for the payment of salary of teachers, scholarships to students, purchase of books and furniture etc. The scheme has not been able to reach all institutions working in the field especially organisations working for the promotion of other classical languages. The scheme is to be expanded with the increase in the amount of salary and scholarships comparable to other institutions. Therefore, the plan outlay of Rs. 150.00 lakh is proposed.

Establishment of Rashtriya Sanskrit and Classical Languages Commission

6.6.10 The establishment of Rashtriya Sanskrit and other Classical languages Grants Commission in under active consideration of the Ministry in pursuance of the recommendations of the Committee to review NPE 1986. The Commission will work as a national agency for the development, maintenance of standards of education, coordination of sanskrit and classical language. On the recommendation of the Central Sanskrit Board it is proposed to set up a National Sanskrit Library at Delhi in the premises of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Vidyapeeth. For this purpose the plan outlay of Rs. 700.00 lakh will be required.

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6.7 Modernisation of Madarasas

6.7.1 Under the 15 Point Programme of Empowered Committee on Minorities Education the scheme of modernisation of Madarasas on voluntary basis is proposed to be implemented during the Eighth Plan. The plan outlay of Rs. 1000.00 lakh will be required.

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