VIII. NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMME, YOUTH WELFARE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Compulsory NCC was started in 1962-63 to cover all able-bodied undergraduate boys studying in the first three years of the degree course. During 1966-67 NCC strength was about 10 lakh. Later on the Inter-University Board decided to reduce the period of compulsion from three to two years. During 1967-68 the strength of NCC dropped to 7.5 lakh. Recently the Inter-University Board have taken a decision to make NCC optional from 1968-69. The Ministry of Defence have indicated that the maximum ceiling for NCC (Senior Division) will be 3 lakh, boys and 1 lakh girls.
2. The Education Commission (1964-66), in its report reviewed the position relating to Social and National Service and recommended that a programme of national service may be developed as an integral part of education which would run concurrently with academic studies in schools and colleges. The proposals have been considered, at various levels, and details have been worked out.
3. It is now proposed to develop in the universities an alternative programme to NCC in the form of National Service Corps (NSC). Students showing marked proficiency in games and sports would be given facilities of further improving their standard through National Sports Organisation (NSO). It has been agreed that during 1968-69 the National Service Corps programme will be developed on a pilot project basis on the initiative of the colleges and universities and the coverage would be 1 lakh students. The Central Government's share of expenditure is estimated at Rs. 100 per student per year and of the State Government at Rs. 50 per student per year.
4. It has been agreed that the programme will be optional but will be developed to attract the maximum number of students in worthwhile projects to be initiated by the students and teachers of the institutions. There will be emphasis on adoption of villages for literacy drives and constructional activities in cooperation and coordination with local authorities. In order to allow flexibility and initiative it is proposed that lump-sum grants be given in the beginning of the financial year on a per capita basis to the universities to make the programme effective. Annual evaluation will be published for the information of both State and Central Governments.
5. The Ministry of Defence, as indicated earlier, have suggested that the strength of NCC should not exceed 4 lakh despite the increase in enrolment visualised during the Fourth Plan. As far as NSC and NSO programmes, are concerned, during 1968-69, in consultation with the Ministry' of Finance, a provision of Rs. 1 crore has been approved to cover 1 lakh students-80,000 in NSC, 20,000 in NSO. It is proposed to progressively increase the coverage, of students under this programme from 1 lakh in 1968-69 to about 6 lakh in 1973-74. Thus, by the end of the Fourth Plan, the coverage of students under NCC, NSC and NSO programmes would be 10 lakh as against the total projected enrolment of 12 lakh in all the faculties and classes of universities excluding intermediate, pre-university and post-graduate classes. The total enrolment in colleges and universities in 1968-69 is expected to be 17 lakh and this is likely to increase by 5 lakh by the end of the Fourth Plan. The
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phasing of the programme in the light of the projected targets are
indicated in Table I.
Table I : Students Strength in NCC, NSC and NSO.
(Figures in lakh)
Sl. Year N.C.C. N.S.C. N.S.O. Total
No. (3+4+5)
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 1969-70 4.00 2.20 0.50 6.70
2 1970-71 4.00 2.65 0.85 7.50
3 1971-72 4.00 3.10 1.20 8.30
4 1972-73 4.00 3.55 1.60 9.15
5 1973-74 4.00 4.00 2.00 10.00
6. The cost of covering NSC and NSO to 4 lakh students by the
end of the Fourth Plan has been worked out in Table II.
Table II : Provision for NCC and NSO in Fourth Plan
(Rs. in crore)
Targets
of
Year Centre States Total Coverage
(Figures
in lakh)
1 2 3 4 5
1969-70 2.70 1.35 4.05 2.70
1970-71 3.50 1.75 5.25 3.50
1971-72 4.30 2.15 6.45 4.30
1972-73 5.15 2.575 7.725 5.15
1973-74 6.00 3.00 9.00 6.00
TOTAL 21.65 10.825 32.175
(or 10.83) (or 32. 18)
The total cost of the programme would be Rs. 32.175 crore, out of which Rs. 21.65 crore would be the Centre's share. It is expected that the State Governments will find their share of expenditure from the savings on account of the reduced strength of NCC as agreed to between the Centre and the States during various discussions and will form part of the non-Plan expenditure. The Central Government's share of the expenditure has been calculated to be Rs. 21.65 crore on the basis of the targets shown in Table I. If, however, the level of expenditure reached in 1968-69, is to be treated as part of non-Plan, then the Central Government's expenditure may be Rs. 16.65 crore.
Youth and Physical Education Programmes 7. The programmes of giving grants to national sports organisations, mountaineering foundations will be continued. Programmes of scouting and
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guiding will be promoted. The physical education teacher training institution will be strengthened and programmes of Lakshmibai College of Physical Education will be expanded. The other programmes would be national physical efficiency drive, establishment of national sports centre, rural sports, holiday camps, etc.
8. The Ministry have set up a Study Group to consider the programmes of Youth Welfare in the Fourth Plan. The report of the Group is not available yet.
Planning Forums 9. This is a continuing programme which was started in 1956. The number of planning forums have steadily increased in the last decade and now more than 1000 forums are functioning throughout the country in universities and colleges. Through these forums a large number of teachers and students have been involved in the planning process. They raise their own local resources and with such assistance as they receive from the government these Forums organise lectures, talks, seminars, symposia, essay and debating competitions exhibitions and small-scale savings campaigns, and undertake socioeconomic surveys, literacy drives, etc. In recent years, the scope of the programme has gradually increased and a welcome trend is the adoption of the aojoining villages and slum areas in an increasing number, by universities and colleges for sustained developmental and constructive work. This is intended to be the main focus in the Fourth Plan so that the universities and colleges play an effective and useful role in the formulation and implementation of the Plan programmes for the local area where they are situated. The following are some of the main activities which are proposed to be undertaken.
(a) Research studies, investigations and planning and local schemes;
(b) Preparation of town and city development plans;
(c) Participation in constructive work by institutional adoption of villages or slum areas for welfare extension work;
(d) Training of local voluntary workers for community development and welfare activities
(e) Evaluation ; and
(f) Social education programme.
This expanded programme for which there is a good deal of popular enthusiasm, an outlay of about Rs. 1 crore, the same as provided in the Draft Outline of the Fourth Plan, will be necessary for achieving the target of 1800 Forums by the end of the Fourth Plan. This will mean that another 800 forums will be added during the course of the Fourth Plan with expanded programmes.
10. The tentative allocation for these programmes during the Fourth Plan would be as under:
Rs. in crore
(1) N. S. C.. . . . . . . 15.00
(2) Youth Welfare, sports, physical education, etc. 14.00
(3) Planning Forums 1.00
30.00
The scheme-wise break-up of Rs. 30 crore is shown in the enclosed statement.
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STATEMENT
Proposed Outlay for Schemes under National Service Programme, Youth
Welfare and Physical Education in the Fourth Plan.
(Rs. in lakh)
1 2 3
Rs.
A. PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORTS & GAMES
1 Grants to National Sports Federations 30.00
2 National Institute of Sports and National Coaching Schemes 40.00
3 Coaching Camps, Purchase of Sports equipment etc 10.00
4 Promotion of Recreation 5.00
5 Establishment of National Sports Centre, Sports House and
Sports Hostel in Delhi 40.00
6 Playgrounds (including Swimming Pools, Stadia, Gymnasia etc) 300.00
7 Development of Sports and Games in rural areas 80.00
8 Grants to Indian Mountaineering Foundation 3.00
9 Promotion of Scouting and Guiding 15.00
10 Laxmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior 20.00
11 Strengthening of Physical Education Training Institutions
and Physical Education Departments of Universities including
N.F.C. Training Programmes 35.00
12 National Efficiency Drive 5.00
13 Promotion of Training and Research in Yoga 5.00
14 Other Physical Education programmes 12.00
TOTAL 600.00
B. YOUTH PROGRAMMES
1 Scheme of Campus Work Projects 10.00
2 Health Services 60.00
3 Guidance & Counselling (Summer courses etc.) 10.00
4 Day Homes/Study Centres, Text-Book Library,
Book Banks and subsidized food 120.00
5 Development of services for non-student youth through
educational institutions 100.00
6 Youth Centres 100.00
7 National Integration programme of Youth 400.00
TOTAL 800.00
C. National Service and Vikas Dal 1500.00
D. Planning Forums 100.00
GRAND TOTAL 3000.00
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