 INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR
 CO-OPERATION WITH UNESCO

Cooperation between India and UNESCO

India is one of the founder-members of the, United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which was established with Headquarters in Paris in November, 1946. During the year under and participated in the following major Unesco conferences :

Second Conference of the Ministers reponsible for Application of Science and Technology to the Development of Asia (CASTASIA-II)

A five-member delegation participated in the second CASTASIA conference held. in Manila front March 22-30, 1982. The conference highlighted the progress made by the Asian countries in the development of of Asia (CASTASIA-II) Science and Technology since 1968, when the first conference on the application of Science and Technology in this region was held at New Delhi. It also focussed attention on issues relating to the global scene for science and technology cooperation, guidelines for scientific and technical cooperation at the, national and international levels, sharing of knowledge and skills amongst the developing countries and related problems.

World Conference on Cultural Policies

UNESCO organised a World Conference on Cultural Policies in Mexico from July 26 to August 6, 1982. A six-member -delegation led by the Education Secretary Smt. Anna R. Malhotra, participated in this Conference. The other members of the Delegation included (i) Shri Mir Nasrullah, Additional Secretary, Department of Culture; (ii) Shri Inam Rahman, Deputy Permanent Representative to Unesco at Paris; (iii) Shri B. K. Thapar, former Director-General, Archaeological Survey of India;(iv) Kumari Savitri Kunadi, Director, Ministry of External Affairs;, and (v) Shri Ajay Prasad, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

One hundred and twenty-nine countries participated in the conference. India was represented on the Drafting Group for Mexico City Declaration. Smt. Anna R. Malhotra,the leader of the Indian Delegation, made her statement in the Plenarysession which was very well received and many delegations complimentedIndia for it. Apart from. some ideological and conceptual problems of cultural society, such subjects as cultural identity, inter-culture relations, themes like democratisation of culture, and cultural rights, substantive issues dealing with preservation and presentation of cultural heritage, stimulation of artistic creativery, links between the policies in the field of culture, education, communication, etc., the cultural goods, services and administrative planning and funance, were also discussed.

The Indian delegation sponsored three draft recommendations about G) sharing of experiences for preservation of cultural property; (ii) strengthening of the international Programme for Development of Communication to build up media infrastructure in developing countries as a protection against cultural domination of foreign material; and (iii) calling for support to the international Fund for Promotion of Culture, while suggesting that soft-loans may be provided by this Fund. 'The three draft recommendations sponsored by India were adopted unanimously by consensus.

Fourth Extraordinary Session of General Conference of Unesco held in Paris from November 23 to December 3, 1982

The fourth extraordinary session of the General Conference of UNESCO was held from November 23 to December 3, 1982, at Unesco Headquarters in Paris from November 23in Paris. The main agenda of the Conference was to consider and adopt December 3, 1982 the draft Second Medium Term Plan for 1984-89. The Indian delegation to the Conference was led by Smt. Sheila Kaul, Minister for Education. Culture and Social Welfare. Shri T. N. Kaul, India's representative on the Executive Board of Unesco, was the deputy leader. The other delegates to the conference comprised Dr. (Smt.) Madhuri. R. Shah, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Smt. Serla Grewal, Education Secretary; and Shri G. Ram Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, Open University, Hyderabad.

The alternate delegates to the Conference included Shri Kireet Joshi, Educational Adviser, Prof. C. S. Jha, Educational Adviser (Technical), Ministry of Education and Culture; Shri Inam Rahman, Deputy Permanent Repre- sentative of India to Unesco; Dr. F. J. Lavakare, Project, Coordinator, Department of Science and Technology; and Kumari Savitri Kunadi, Director, Ministry of External Affairs.

India was elected as one of the Vice-Chairmen of the Conference. India was also elected as a member of the Draffing and Negotiating Group set up by the Conference. Sint Sheila.Kaul, leader of the Indian delegation, made, a comprehensive statement on Unesco's Medium-Term Plan. Smt. Kaul referred to major Programmes included in the Draft Plan and emphasized the need of developing countries concerning programmes relating to education, culture, communication, science and technology. In this context, she observed that "While the, centre of Unesco is education, and the centre of education is youth, we do not seem to place youth in the Centre of our attention". She also urged Unesco to intensify its efforts towards the objective of raising the status of women. She pointed out that in India universalisation of elementary education and adult education have been given a promient place in our 20- point programme. she said, "We are deeply engaged in devising new ways and methods to reach our goals as expeditiously as possible". She called upon Unesco to formulate programmes of massive dimensions in this field. She also urged Unesco to play a major role in furtherance of peace and human rights and in the process of development.

The head of Indian delegation presided over one of the Plenary sessions in which general debate on the Plan document was held. In Commission I and Commission II, members of the Indian delegation participated in the discussions relating to, all Major Programmes. Formal statements were made during the discussions by Shri T. N. Kaul, Sint Serla Grewal, Dr. (Smt.) Madhuri R. Shah, Prof. G. Ram Reddy, Shri Kireet Joshi and Prof. C. S. Jha. The Indian delegation also contributed significantly to the final consensus which was reached in the Drafting and Negotiating Group.

Meetings of the Executive Board of Unesco

Shri T. N. Kaul, India's member on the Executive Board of UNESCO, participated in the three meetings of the Executive Board of UNESCO held during 1982. He was assisted by Shri Narender Singh, Ambassador of India to France and Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, Shri Inam Rahman, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, and Shri G. V. Rao, Honorary Adviser, to the Permanent Representative. Among the various items that came up for discussion in the meetings, holding of World Conference on Cultural Policies in Mexico, adoption of Medium Term Plan of UNESCO for 1984-89 and holding of the Fourth Extra-ordinary Session of Unesco General Conference in Paris, were the most important. Shri T. N. Kaul took an active part in the deliberations of the Executive Board projecting the point of, view of the developing countries.

Extraordinary Session of the Council of International Bureau of Education

Shri Baldev Mahajan, Deputy Secretary, Ministry,of Education and Culture and Secretary, Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco Attended the extra-ordinary session of the Council of International Bureau of Education, held on November 20 and 22, 1982, for making recommendations to Director-General of Unesco for selection of suitable candidates, for the post of Director of the I.B.E.

Fifteenth Conference of the Indian National Commission

The Fifteenth Conference of the Indian National Commission for Co-operation with Unesco was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on June 10,1982. Smt. Sheila Kaul, Minister of State for Education, Culture and Social Welfare and President of the Commission, presided. The Conference was attended by 29 individual members and 30 representatives of the institutional members.

The conference noted with appreciation the work done by the Indian delegation to the 21st Session of the General Conference of Unesco held at Belgrade in September-October, 1980 and by the Commission in promoting closer cooperation between India and Unesco during the previous two years.

The Conference took special note of the following three major conferences to be convened under Unesco's auspices during 1982 and made several recommendations regarding India's view-point to be projected by the Indian delegation to these conferences

(i) World Conference on Cultural Policies (Mexico City, July 26 to August 5, 1982);

(ii) Fourth extra-ordinary session of the General Conference of Unesco to consider and adopt Unesco's Second Medium-Term Plan covering the period (1984- 80) (Paris, November 23 to December 3, 1982); and

(iii) Inter-governmental meeting on Education for International Understanding, Cooperation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms with a view to developing a climate of opinion favourable to the strengthening of security and disarmament (Paris, December 7-14, 1982), The meeting was later postponed.

Sixteenth Conference of the Indian National Commission

The Sixteenth session of the Indian National, Commission for Co-operation with Unesco, was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on October 18, 1982. The meeting was attended by 31 individual 'and 22 institutional members of the Commission- The meeting was presided over by the Minister of State for Education, in her capacity as the President of the Commission. Education. Secretary, who is also the Secretary-General of the Commission, welcomed the participants.

This meeting was held to discuss the draft Second Medium-Term Plan, for 1984-89, of Unesco and to seek advice of the members of the Commission so that. the Indian delegation to be sent to the Fourth Extra- ordinary Session of the General conference of Unesco, could be briefed on the strategies and stand to be taken in the Conference. More than 20 Members participated in the discussion and made many valuable suggestions in the fields of education culture, science, and technology, communication, social sciences, etc. In addition to making general comments on Unesco's Draft Medium Term Plan, several members spoke at length on the subjects of their specialization and the programmes suggested in the document, commenting on the order of priorities allotted, need to include some new programmes, resource indications, etc.

Meeting of the Culture Sub-Commission of the Indian National Commission

A meeting of the Culture Sub-Commission of Indian National commission for Cooperation with Unesco was held on July 13, 1982. In the Commission meeting the members of the Sub-Commission discussed the approach, stands and strategies which may be adopted by India at the World Conference on Cultural Policies organised by Unesco at Mexico from July 26 to August 6, 1982.

Strengthening the Activities of the Indian National Commission

Indian National Commission to discharge its functions and responsibilities in an adequate manner, a plan scheme for strengthening the activities of the Commission with a total outlay of Rs. 25 lakhs has been included in the Sixth Five Year Plan. Out of the total outlay, a provision of Rs. 6 lakhs has been' included in the budget estimates for 1983-84. A, proposal is under active consideration to set up a Unesco House in New Delhi for the execution of Unesco activities in this country, such as organising exhibitions, coordinating the work of Unesco Clubs, publishing literature relating to Unesco for wide circulation in order to create a better awareness of world problems amongst the youth of the country. If this proposal materialises, Unesco House will be the principal executive organ of the Indian National Commission.

Participation in Unesco Meeting and other activities

As in previous years, the Secretariat of the Indian National Commission continued to nominate experts to participate in national, regional and international meetings convened by or on behalf of Unesco, to coordi- nate the Unesco Club Movement in the country, and to publish Hindi and Tamil editions of Unesco magazine "The Courier". The secretariat of the Commission also inter- alia sanctioned grants-in-aid to voluntary organisations interested in spreading the message of Unesco.

Unesco Coupons

The Commission continued to operate the Unesco International Coupons Scheme designed to help educational and research institutions and also individuals,working in the fields of education, science and culture to import their bonafide requirements of educational publications, scientific equipments, educational films etc. from abroad without undergoing the foreign exchange,and import control formalities.

The Commission brings out a quarterly Newsletter" to publicise information about the activities of Unesco and the Commission in India. This is circulated widely in the country and abroad.

INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CO-OPERATION WITH UNESCO