APPENDIX A(A)-- REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS IMPLEMENT OR PROPOSED TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
The Central Institute of Education.-No report on the Central Institute of Education has been included in this memorandum because the Institute is now on a permanent footing and is no more an item in the development plans of the Ministry.
Lady Irwin College-Introduction of B.Sc. and B.Ed. courses in Home Science.-The three-year Development scheme of the Introduction of B.Sc. and. B.Ed. courses in Home Science in Lady Irwin College, which was started in the year 1950-51, completed its three years in 1952-53. It has been decided to continue the scheme for another period of two years after Which the position will be reviewed.
In 1951-52 the College completed construction of the Needlework Room and two small rooms for nonresidential staff and students. During 1952-53. the construction of laboratories for Biochemistry and Dietectics, Biology and Research were completed.
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At present the College has on its rolls 129 students, in the B.Sc course and four students in the B.Ed. course. During 1952-53 the College was paid Rs. 44,824 and Rs. 1,06,872 as recurring and non- recurring grants respectively.
Merit Scholarships in Public Schools.-During the current year the Government of India have taken action to implement the above scheme at a total, cost of Rs. one lakh. Under this scheme it is proposed to give scholarships (comprising full freeships and part freeships) on an all-India basis, to be awarded to deserving and meritorious students in different Public schools. These scholarships will be available to children who have completed the age of five years but have not completed the age of 12 years on 1st January, 1954. 17 1/2 per cent of the scholarships are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes.
Direct Grants to Public Schools.-It has also been decided to give direct grants-in-aid to such Public schools as are in urgent need of financial assistance for a temporary period. For this purpose there is a provision of Rs. one lakh in this year's (1953-54) budget.
National Academy of Dance, Drama and Music.-The National Academy of Dance, Drama and Music (Sangeet Natak Akadami) was inaugurated by the President on the 28th January, 1953. Its office is located at 9, Queensway Lane, New Delhi.
A provision of Rs. 2,50,000 exists in the budget for 1953-54.
National Academy of Letters.-The National Academy of Letters is in the process of being set up. The constitution of the Academy has been finalised and the composition of -the General Council, and the Executive Board has almost been completed. Shri Jawaharlal Nehru has been appointed as the first Chairman of the Academy.
A provision of Rs. 1,50,000 exists in the budget for 1953-54.
National Academy of Art.-A Government Resolution setting up, the National Academy of Art has been issued and necessary steps to finalise the composition of the General Council and the Executive Board of the Academy are being taken.
A provision of Rs. 1,00,000 exists for the purpose during the current financial year.
Academy of Hindustani Music.-A conference of State Government representatives to consider the modification suggested by the Uttar Pradesh Government in the constitution of the proposed Academy of Hindustani Music was held on the 28th August, 1953.
The U.P. Government has been requested to implement the cons- titution as finally approved and nominate their representatives. Their reply is awaited.
A budget of Rs. 50,000 exists in the current financial year.
Academy of Karnatic Music.-The establishment of the proposed Academy of Karnatak Music has been held up owing to the inability, of the Government of Madras to reach an agreement with the other State Governments concerned. The Chief Minister of the Madras Government, Shri Rajagopalachari has, however, shown his willingness to take up the question of starting the Academy again but he thinks that the present time is not quite opportune.
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A provision of Rs. 40,000 exists in the current year's budget.
National Art Gallery. In order to preserve the national art of the country, the Government of India have set up a National Gallery of Art with Dr. H. Goetz, formerly Director, Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, Baroda, as its Curator. The Gallery is located in the Jaipur House, New Delhi.
A provision of Rs. 1,25,000 exists in the current year's budget.
Financial assistance to persons distinguished in letters, art and such other walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances.-The Government of India have decided to provide funds each year from which a suitable allowance and/or a lump sum grant can be made to' persons distinguished in letters, art and other such walks of life i.e.' to persons who have made substantial contributions in these fields and who may be in indigent circumstances.
A provision of Rs. 1,00,000 exists in the current year's budget.
Cultural scholarships for young workers in Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Drama and Literature.-The Government of India have decided to award annually 100 scholarships, each of the value of Rs. 250 per month, to encourage young promising workers in different fields of cultural activity-fine arts, music, dance, drama (including films) and literature. The scholars will be required to work under approved expert institutions in the field for a period of two years.
A provision of Rs. 2,25,000 exists in the current year's budget.
Acquisition of Art Objects.-During 1952-53 approximately a sum of Rs. 27,000 was spent on the purchase of art objects and a sum of Rs. 18,600 was contributed to the National Art Treasures Fund. During the current financial year a provision of Rs. 2,50,000 exists for the purchase of contemporary and ancient art objects. The provision includes contribution to the National Art Treasures Fund.
Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.-There has been steady progress in our cultural relations with foreign countries. The activities undertaken under this head are:
1. Sending of Art Exhibitions to Foreign Countries-
Three Art Exhibitions have been sent to:
(a) China-Japan-Australia.
(b) U.S.A.
(c) U.S.S.R. and some of the European countries.
2. Sending a debating team of two students to U.K.
3. Presentation of books to foreign institutions.
4. Exchange of publications.
5. Receipt and distribution of gift books under the CARE scheme.
6. Financial assistance to artists, musicians, dancers etc. going to foreign countries.
7. Cultural delegations to and from foreign countries.
8. Opening of libraries in foreign countries and donation of library vans.
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9. Participation in international congresses and conferences.
10. Assistance to institutions and learned bodies devoted to the cause and development of cultural activities between India and their respective countries, that is,
(a) Italo-Indian Association, Rome.
(b) India League, Australia.
(c) Imperial (Commonwealth) Institute, London.
(d) School of Oriental and African Studies, London.
(e) Royal Asiatic Society, London.
(f) Indian Hospice, Jerusalem.
(g) Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust, Ceylon.
(h) Rama Krishna Mission Institute for Cultural Centre Building at Ceylon.
11. Presentation of Library Units.
12. Organisation of Essay contests on 'India' (written in any language as well as essays written in Hindi, on any subject, in foreign schools and award of prizes.
The above activities are being financed from the block provisions of Rs. 25 lakhs, included in the 1953-54 budget, for augmenting cul- tural activities.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations.-The Government of India are giving grants to the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, a non- official Organisation devoted to the object of strengthening India's Cultural relations with Asian and African countries.
In addition to the Middle East and South East Asia Wing, the Council has opened an African Section and a Students' Service Unit. The African Section deals with the cultural relations with Africans, while the Students' Service Unit is solely devoted to various edu- cational institutions in India.
Social Education Activities.-The work of the Government of India in the field of Social education was confined during the period to publishing so 'me useful literature, on the subject. The publication of Hindi pamphlets on subjects of interest to adults was continued through the agency of Idara Talim-o-Taraqqi, Jamia Millia, Delhi. An additional amount of Rs. 50,000 was placed at the disposal of the Idara in 1952-53 for this purpose. So far 140 pamphlets in Hindi have been published and manuscripts of nearly 30 others have been finalised and will be published shortly.
"The Teachers' Handbook of Social Education" which was published in 1952 has proved its value inasmuch as a second edition had to be brought out this year. As a result of the work of the Social Educa- tion Literature Committee, the Ministry has published the pamphlet- Writing Books for Adults-Literature for Neo-Literates'. An All India Report on Social Education for the period 1947-51 has also been pub- lished. A "Popular Encyclopaedia" in Hindi which is likely to run into -several volumes is being published under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. It will provide interesting and useful reading material for adults who have received education up to the
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Middle standard and for whom sufficient and suitable reading is not available. The manuscript of the first volume of the Encyclopaedia. has been nearly completed and it is expected to be out during the current year.
In August 1953, a Literary Workshop was organised at Janata College, Alipur - (Delhi) with the co-operation of the Ford Foundation for training people to write for neo-literates. 24 trainees coming from Bihar, U.P., Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi successfully com- pleted their course at the workshop and were awarded certificates. Three more such workshops will be organised shortly, one each for West India, South India and East India. Each workshop will cost approximately Rs. 15,000.
In co-operation with Unesco, the Ministry organised a Training Seminar in the production of audio-visual aids etc. which was con- ducted at the Central Institute of Education, Delhi from November, 1952 to February 1953 and at Mysore, under the auspices of the Mysore State Adult Education Council, from March, 1953 to May, 1953.
The Seminar imparted training in-
(i) various methods of producing and using simple visual
aids for adult rural education, particularly the
production of animated movies at low cost (in certain
cases without the use of cameras), filmstrips (both by
direct photography and by cartoon drawing on raw film),
posters, wall sheets, puppets, etc.; and
(ii) effectively illustrating simple stories from folklore
and epics or other material prepared for adults (and
children) learning to read and write.
In consultation with the Ministry, Unesco selected the following experts to conduct the course:
(a) Mr. Norman McLaren, from the National Film Board of Canada-Leader of the Team.
(b) Mr. Edward Ardizzone from Great Britain.
(c) Dr. Abid Husain, of the Jamia Millia, Delhi.
(d) Mr. Buddhadeva Bose of Calcutta.
The two Indian experts were associated with the foreign experts, with the consent of Unesco, so as to enable the latter to know and understand our problems and needs.
The Government of India met the following expenses in connection with the services of these experts:
(i) free lodging for the members of the team,
(ii) free board and lodging when the members were away from their central duty station on official visit,
(iii) secretarial assistance,
(iv) travel on official duty,
(v) appropriate accommodation for conducting the course, and
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(vi) transport as and when required for official work.
For the two courses, expenditure from Central Revenues amounted to approximately Rs. 20,000/-.
Unesco paid for the salary, honoraria and other expenses of all the four experts and has lent the use 'of some essential equipment.
The course was designed for the following categories:
(i) artists who had some experience in the illustration of educational books or who had shown ability to convey ideas in a vivid and simple style,
(ii) graduates from Art Schools or from Technical Schools who had Drawing as one of their subjects,
(iii) persons who had developed the use of puppets or shadow shows or similar dramatic and educational activities,
(iv) photographers who could produce lantern slides or film strips or posters, and
(v) cameramen or production technicians who had worked in the production of educational or documentary films.
The nominees from the following State Governments and Associated Projects participated in the two courses:
The Course at the Central Institute of Education
States: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir.
Associated Projects: Idara Talim-o-Taraqqi, Delhi, Etawah and Gorakhpur Rural Development Projects, U.P., and Delhi Public Library.
The Course at Mysore
States: Bombay, Madras, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, A Uttar Pradesh,
Associated Projects: Idara Talim-o-Taraqqi, Jamia Millia, Delhi and the Delhi Public Library.
The material produced at the Seminars includes books, film strips, animated films and posters. It is proposed to select the best among these and arrange for their mass production and circulation to State Governments, and associated Projects etc. It has yet to be decided whether Unesco or the Ministry will arrange for this mass production.
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