APPENDIX A (b)- REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
An account of the progress made with regard to the Central Development Schemes during 1949 (January-December 1949) is given below.
Basic and Social Education One of the recommendations of the Kher Committee, set up to consider ways and means of financing educational development was that attempts should be made to introduce Compulsory Education for the children of age-group 6 to 14 within a period of 16 years. To implement this recommendation the Provinces requested that substantial financial help should come from the centre. Owing to financial stringency this Ministry could make a provision of Rs. 50,00,000 only in their budget for 1949-50 for giving grants to the Provinces and Centrally Administered areas for the Training of Basic Teachers. It was decided that out of this sum Rs. 45,00,000 will be given to Provinces and Rs. 5,00,000 to the Centrally Administered areas. Owing to the rapid deterioration in the financial position of the Government of India this sum has been reduced to 13.5 lakhs for the year 1949-50. The Ministry have decided that the grants will be calculated on the basis of the number of children between the age of 6 to 11 in the Provinces. The scheme has been approved by the Standing Committee of the Legislature (Education).
In order to wipe out illiteracy among adults and to provide Social Education for them a scheme for a ten years campaign was drawn up. It was realised that the Government of India should financially help the
40
Provinces in the implementation of the scheme. Provision of Rs. 1,00,00,000 was, therefore, made in this year', budget, but again owing to financial stringency this had to be reduced to about Rs. 62,00,000.
The Report of the Adult (Social) Education Committee as approved by the Central Advisory Board of Education was discussed at the Education Ministers' Conference held in February 1949. The. recommendations of this Committee concerning the Provinces were generally accepted by the Conference. The Provinces were then asked to send their schemes on Social Education to this Ministry. The schemes were examined and grants from Rs. 62,00,000 were given to the Provinces. The basis of grants was the actual expenditure incurred by the Provinces upto 31st August 1949 plus firm commitments for the year, the ceiling in each case being the share of the Province calculated on the basis of illiterate population.
Training Institutions The Central Institute of Education under the Administration of this Ministry made good progress during the year. 68 candidates were sent for B.T. and 10 for M.Ed. Examinations of the Delhi University in April, 1949. 61 passed the B.T. Examination and 8 the M.Ed. Examination. In July 1949, 80 students were admitted to the B.T. Course and 20 to the M.Ed. Course.
The Foundation Stone of the Institute's building was laid down by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on the 18th April. The construction of the building has now started. Medical facilities for the students and the non-gazetted staff of the Institute have been provided.
The Government of India had hoped to start the Central Institute of Psychology during the current financial year, but owing to shortage of funds this scheme has been postponed for the next year. It has been decided for economic reasons to start this Institute as a Wing of the Central Institute of Education.
The Centre's scheme-Introduction of B.Sc. and B.T. Courses in Domestic Science in the Lady Irwin College-was implemented during the year 1948-49. It has been decided to start the classes from the next term. The College will be affiliated to the Delhi University.
The second batch of Teacher-Trainees in Arts and Crafts and Music and Dancing was admitted to Vinay Bhavan, Santiniketan in August 1949. There are 14 Teacher-Trainees for Arts and Crafts and 9 for Music and Dancing. The Training Classes in Basic Education started for the first time in July, 1949. 40 Teacher-Trainees were admitted.
30 Teacher-Trainees were sent for training in Basic Education to Jamia Millia in July 1949.
University Education During 1948-49 the Government of India paid a sum of Rs. 14,50,000 to Delhi University and Rs. 50,000 to the Aligarh University for constructions of buildings. Recurring grants of Rs. 2,96,408, Rs. 4,00,000 and Rs. 2,27,754 were respectively paid to the Delhi University, Banaras University and Aligarh University in 1948-49 for revised scales of pay of the staff and certain other improvements. An additional grant of Rs. 1,82,000 was given to the Delhi University for the expansion of the Science Department and an additional grant of Rs. 1,50,000 was given to the Banaras Hindu University for Agriculture College.
41
Uniform Braille and Central Braille Press It has been decided to give grants to the Provinces for transcribing Braille Books in uniform Indian Braille.
Arrangements for the construction of a building for the Press are being made at Dehra Dun. It is expected that the building will be ready by July 1950. A certain portion of the machinery for the Press has been bought and stored at St. Danstan's, Dehra Dun. The Manager for the Press has been selected and sent to U.S.A. for training.
Physical Culture A sum of Rs. 1,00,000 was originally. provided for promotion of Physical Education in the country. Owing to financial stringency the sum was reduced to Rs. 50,000. Out of this a sum of Rs. 10,000 was sanctioned as grant-in-aid to Shri Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal, Amravati to organise a team for demonstrating Indian Physical Culture on the occasion of the second World Lingiad held in Stockholm during July 1949. Their display was very much appreciated.
National Academy of Hindustani Music, Lucknow The National Academy came into existence consequent upon the reorganisation of the Marris College of Hindustani Music, Lucknow in 1947. The Constitution of the Academy is under consideration. A provision of Rs. 25,000 has been made on this account in this Ministry's budget for 1949-50.
The Academy of Karnatak Music The Academy of Karnatak Music started functioning from August, 1949. A provisional Council appointed by the Government of Madras is administering the Institution, pending the adoption of the new constitution. The expenses are to be shared by the Central and Madras Governments.
National Cultural Trust The scheme for the establishment of the National Cultural Trust for the preservation of India's cultural heritage has been postponed because of financial reasons. It was, however, decided to call three Conferences, one on Art, one on Letters and the third on Dance, Drama and Music to prepare the ground for the Trust. The Art Conference was held in Calcutta in August 1949. The Conference recommended that a Central Advisory Board on Art may be established to advise the Government of India on all matters connected with Art. The Conference also approved the award of 8 Art Scholarships each of Rs, 2,500. The Conference approved the setting up of an Art Travelling Fellowship Fund to be shared by the Central and Provincial Governments, from which facilities for further education may be given to promising artists.
Cultural Relations 1. Organisation of Indian Cultural Centres for foreign countries.The Ministry have been considering the problem of promoting cultural contacts with the countries of the world and promoting appreciation of Indian Culture in them. Indian Diplomatic representatives have been consulted and it is suggested that for the realisation of their objects it is necessary to arrange Industrial and Art Exhibitions, to exchange publications and students, Professors and- teachers.
2. Award of ad hoc Scholarships by the Government of India.Five East African students and six Indonesian students who were invited
42
to India for study and were granted Scholarships are making satisfactory progress. On the suggestions of the Indian Ambassador in China the Scholarships of the six Indian Scholars in China have been extended. The students will return in December 1949.
3. Gift of Books to foreign countries and exchange of publications. -During the current year books worth about Rs. 4,500 are being purchased for presentation to libraries and institutions in foreign countries.
A draft agreement forwarded by the United States Government for the reciprocal exchange of Government of India publications for the U.S.A. Federal publications is under examination.
4. Organisation of the Indian Council of Cultural Co-operation.-At a Conference convened by the Hon'ble Minister for Education in August 1949 which was attended by a number of Ambassadors of Asian Countries Ministers of the Government of India and members of the Constituent Assembly, the proposal to establish an Indian Council of Cultural Co-operation which would devote itself to the strengthening of the cultural ties between India and other countries of Asia and the Far East was approved. A Sub-Committee was appointed to prepare a draft constitution for this body. It was also decided that the existing Indo-Iranian Cultural Committee should be merged with the proposed Council of Cultural Co-operation.
5. General Scheme for grant of Scholarships in India to students of Indian and indigenous origin from Commonwealth and foreign countries. Under the scheme scholarships were awarded to Indians and non-Indians of certain Asian and African countries. So far 48 scholars have joined and 9 were expected to join very soon.
National Museum of Art, Archaeology and Anthropology A nucleus of the National Museum was started in the Government House, Delhi on the 15th October 1949. Provincial and Private Museums, Indian Princes and private collectors have been requested to donate or give on permanent loan to the museum works of Indian art in their possession. So far a sum of Rs. 5,00,000 has been spent on the purchase of Indian Art Treasures from various sources.
Schemes for Technical Education, Overseas Scholarships, Scheduled Caste Scholarships and Central Bureau of Education
Detailed Memoranda regarding these are appended under Items No. II(c), (d), (e) and (f) respectively.