APPENDIX A (H) :
REPORT ON THE CULTURAL
 SCHOLARSHIPS SCHEME

(a) General Feature:

-The object of the scheme is to promote cultural relations with neighbouring countries and to offer educational facilities to students of countries that are not so well equipped in this respect. It was initiated by the Government of India in 1949-50 and it was decided to award 70 scholarships every year to students of Indian origin domiciled abroad and indigenous students of certain Asian, African and other Commonwealth countries. The number of fresh awards made annually has been raised to 100 with effect from 1952-53.

Two hundred and sixty scholars are studying under the scheme as on 30th November 1954 from the following countries:-

Aden, Afghanistan, British East Africa, British West Indies, Burma, Ceylon, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gold Coast, IndoChina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Malaya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Rhodesia, Syria, Surinam, Sudan, Tibet, Thailand and Turkey.

(b) Value and Duration of Scholarships

:-The rate of stipend is Rs. 200/- p.m. besides capitation, tuition and university examination fees. In some cases, part scholarships ranging from Rs. 75/p.m. to Rs. 100/- p.m. have been awarded to those who are already studying in India and needed help. A scholarship of Rs. 300/p.m. has also been awarded during 1953-54 to a scholar-teacher from British East Africa who is teaching the Swahili language at the Delhi University besides studying himself.

The scholarship is tenable for a period necessary for the student to complete the course of study for which he is selected subject to satisfactory progress.

(c) Subjects of Study:

-Scholarships are awarded for study in Indian universities and other educational institutions in the Arts and Humanities, Science, Agriculture, Medicine, Technology, Education, Law, Commerce, Forestry, Veterinary Science, Engineering and other allied subjects. Preference is given to students desiring to take post-graduate courses but from such countries where adequate facilities for post-matriculation education do not exist, students at the under-graduate level are also selected.

No specific number of scholarships is allotted to different subjects.

(d) Selections:

-Selections are made by the Government of India on the recommendations of the Indian Missions abroad

135

who are requested to send their recommendations every year by a specified date.

The allotment of scholarships to the countries are made keeping in view the needs and the demands of each country concerned and the total number of scholarships available.

The following table shows the number of scholarships awarded since the inception of the scheme in 1949-50. 

        
                                          

                                                                                      
                No. of scholar-   No. of scholarships   
        Year.   ships alloted     actually utilised      Total   scholars   
                                                       utilised  studying  Remarks.
                                                                 in India
                Indian  Non-     Indian    Non-                     on
                origin. Indian.  origin.   Indian.                20-11-54
        
                                            

 
        
        1949-50  30     40        32        24            56         4
        
        1950-51  30     40        28        24            52        13
        
        1951-52  29     41        23        30            53        21
        
        1952-53  29     41        35        60            95        52
        
        1953-54  33     67        30        64            94        84
        
        1954-55  33     67     All  awards not yet finalised        86  so for
                                                                    arrived
        
                                                                    260

(e) The budget provision for the current financial year for the scheme is Rs. 6,25,000/- and a provision of Rs. 7,25,000/- has, been made in the budget estimates for the year 1955-56.

(f) Welfare arrangements:

-The Government of India have paid special attention to the welfare of the scholars and have taken steps to make their sojourn in India as fruitful as possible. Welfare Committees and Tour Committees have been formed at the various universities to look after the welfare of the foreign students. Historical tours and sight-seeing are also arranged so that scholars may be able to visit places of historical and cultural interest. An educational-cum-recreational Summer Camp for foreign students in Indian universities was organised at Kodaikanal by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in May 1954. It is also proposed to hold a holiday camp of foreign scholars once a year which will be of one month's duration. This will enable the foreign scholars to mix with the students of various foreign countries and develop in them a sense of universal brotherhood. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations has also been looking to the general welfare of foreign students studying in India.

136

The Government of India keep a close watch on the progress of these students. Quarterly progress reports are called for from these scholars through the Principals of the institutions where they are undergoing study and their difficulties resolved as far as possible. Occasionally these scholars are also contacted by the Government of India Officers and their problems, if any, are discussed.

(g) Appreciation of the Scheme:

-The scheme has been very well received by the Governments as well as the student-community abroad. Notes of appreciation have been received by the Government from many quarters overseas. The scheme has already begun to play its part in developing cultural relations and fostering better under- standing between India and the participating countries. The introduction of the scheme has aroused interest in the foreign coun- tries, particularly the African countries, to have their children edu- cated in India and there has been a gradual increase in the flow of foreign students to India.