WELCOME
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Social Welfare and Culture, and myself, it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you to this thirty-eighth meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education. I should also like to thank you for accepting our invitation to participate in this meeting, in spite of the short notice. I am confident that your deliberations and recommendations will be of immense use to the Government of India and to the State Governments for the proper development of their educational programmes.
The main object of this meeting is to review broadly the likely progress of education in the first three years of the Fifth Five Year Plan and to decide upon a realistic strategy of action over the remaining Plan period. To assist in these deliberations, we convened a Conference of the Education Secretaries and Directors of Education on the 25th and 26th of this month. The Conference has prepared, after examining the current educational situation, some draft resolutions which have now been circulated to all the members. I take this opportunity to thank the State Education Secretaries and Directors of Education for their labour, and hope that their proposals will be of some assistance to the Board.
May I also invite your attention to the first results of the third educational survey which have now become available and a small booklet on which has been circulated to you ? These data are significant for the main objective of this meeting.
I should also like to say a few words about the implementation of the proposals, relating to the education sector, included
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in the 20-point economic programme announced by the Prime Minister.
(a) As a result of the constant efforts made by the State Governments and the support provided by the Government of India, arrangements are already in operation for the supply of essential commodities in about 3,600 hostels with about 2.76 lakhs of residents or 60 per cent of total estimated number of students residing in hostels and approved lodgings. As a result of these measures, the monthly mess bill of the students in these hostels has been considerably reduced.
(b) Paper at concessional cost and weighing about 1.78 lakh tonnes has been allocated to the State Governments for the production of reasonably priced text-books and note-books. Reports have been received from several parts of the country that, as the result of these measures, the prices of text-books and exercise books have been considerably reduced and that they are easily available in the market at controlled rates.
(c) Under the modified and expanded scheme of book banks, initiated by the University Grants Commission, 625 book banks have been established and grants-in-aid of about Rs. 42 lakhs have already been released. In some States, similar provision of book banks has made at the school stage also.
(d) Out of about 13,000 vacancies located in industry for the degree and diploma holders in engineering, about 5,700 seats of apprenticeships have been utilised.
Mr. Chairman, we are fortunate in having the benefit of the continued advice and guidance of an educationist of your eminence for the last four years. The initiative and drive that you have shown in restructuring and development of education is well known and does not need elaboration. We are confident that your leadership will be of immense help in meeting the complex and difficult challenges which now face us. I would not, therefore, stand any longer between you and the members of Board and request you kindly to address us on the main theme of this meeting.