"UNESCO IN INDIA : COMMUNICATION"
 BY SATYENDRA PRAKASH
 

Over the years, UNESCO has assisted India in the field of communication. It promotes the free flow of ideas by word and image. The Film and. Television Institute of India, Pune was established with the assistance of UNESCO. The National Book Trust of India at New Delhi has been assisted by UNESCO. The Southern Languages Book Trust at Madras, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and the international Institute of Tamil Studies, Madras have also been assisted by UNESCO.

The 21st Session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1981 approved the setting up of international Programme for the Development, of Communication (IPDC) with the objective to promote the communication capabilities of developing countries. In view of India's active support to the creation of IPDC, India was honoured with membership of the council of IPDC since its inception.

Over the years, IPDC has become the main instruments for UNESCO to develop national news agencies and influence media pluralism. India, as one of the founding members of UNESCO and an active participant in all the Organization's activities, has continuously received assistance for a number of communication activities, especially under IPDC. In the present era of competition, expansion of communication network and rapid advancement of technology, equal emphasis on

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strengthening the financial base of IPDC is as important as the flow of resources to the industrial, economic and commercial activities, since communication holds the key to economic progress. India has already made a mark in its efforts to be a competitive economic: nation, and its sustained role in championing the cause for free flow of information is as much dear to it as encouraging the market friendly forces in the economic arena. It is to be mentioned that India, despite the strained resource position, has contributed more than US $1 million to IPDC till 1990-91, in the form of 10 annual instalments of $100,000 each. In the financial years 1991-92, 1992- 93, 1993-94 and 1994-95, India continued with contributions of US $20,000 India raised its contribution to US$25,000 for the year 1996.

IPDC has done commendable work in the field of communication, which needs to be recognised. In the rapidly changing socio-political global scenario, particularly in developing countries, the role of UNESCO and its IPDC become significant. Development of appropriate communication strategies to ensure free and speedy flow of information through all forms of media is a vital input to this process of change. Isolation and insularity; leading to suppression of information, are outmoded and redundant concepts today. In this background, the programmes and projects of IPDC in developing countries around the world assume greater significance.

UNESCO's emphasis, in the IPDC programmes, on training of manpower is very significant. The relative importance between "technology" vis-a-vis "training" has generated considerable debate. There is little doubt that a (Careful balance has to be maintained between the two and neither is mutually exclusive. However, in the final analysis, even the most sophisticated communication technology, whether hardware or software, is only as good as the people who use it. The

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development of human resources through dissemination of knowledge, upgradation of skills and fostering innovative capacities should continue to be the ultimate goals of IPDC/UNESCO.

There is also a need, at this juncture when we are entering, the 21st century, to took at IPDC's role in a larger perspective, i.e., going beyond the implementation of projects in the area of communication. There is a need to give thought to the quality and content of mass communication, its relevance and benefits for society - particularly the disadvantaged sections - what sort of value systems they are establishing among the younger generations, etc.

The Programme implementation in the 1990s by IPDC in India in the field of communication is as given below:

= UNESCO sanctioned US$90,000 in 1992 for training programme at Jamia Millia Islamia, followed by a further US$20,000 in 1993.

= An amount of US$45,000 has been agreed as UNESCO's assistance through IPDC for earthquake affected villages of Maharashtra in the year 1994.

= In fulfilment of the undertaking given to the 27th General Conference, an International Round Table on Non- Violence, Tolerance and Television was organised in New Delhi on 1 April 1994 by the Indian Government along with UNESCO and its IPDC. It was significant that the conference was organised to coincide with the 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

India is fully aware of the real value of UNESCO in the field of communication. India believes that UNESCO's main objective is to strengthen the foundations of peace in the minds of men and mould their sentiments and aspirations in such a way as to make peaceful co- existence a reality. UNESCO is not looked upon by India only as a channel for financial assistance to developing countries. India believes that it serves larger goals for mankind which are far beyond

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those of technical cooperation, exchange of information and educational and scientific development. In India's perception, considerations of national interest and of costs and benefits are indeed important, but while serving an international body there is a tacit willingness to reorient national interests so as to conform to common international objectives. It would, therefore, be erroneous to evaluate the work of bodies like UNESCO only from a national point of view or in terms of purely physical costs and benefits.

SESSION-III

EDUCATION AND CULTURE

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