all files - Azim Premji Foundation

Overview
management to various sectors of the Indian economy.
These institutes conduct research to cater to the needs
of non-corporate sectors like agriculture, rural
development, energy, health, education, habitat etc.
Expansion of such institutions of excellence, providing
globally competitive manpower, are the priorities of the
Ministry.
The second cycle of the first phase of TEQIP is being
implemented in 13 States – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka,
Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and West Bengal. The
programme aims at upscaling and supporting the ongoing
efforts of the Government of India in improving
quality and enhancing existing capacities of the
Institutions. Forty lead institutions (including 18
Centrally funded NITs) and 114 state engineering/
network institutions (including 20 Polytechnics) are
participating in the programme in the first phase, which
coincides with the Tenth Plan period. The programme
will benefit 10,000 graduating students, each year by
imparting superior skills and training and will also
enhance the professional development of 1000 teachers.
Efforts are being made to strengthen the Community
Polytechnics, which are wings of the existing
polytechnics mandated to undertake rural/community
development activities in their vicinity through the
application of Science and Technology, by providing a
one-time non-recurring grants-in-aid of Rs.7.00 lakh,
and an annual recurring grant of up to a maximum of
Rs.7 lakh. Community polytechnics provide a platform
for transfer of appropriate technologies to rural masses
for development on scientific lines, and provide
technical/support services to the local community. At
present, there are 669 community polytechnics in the
country.
Language Development,
Scholarships and other Programmes
Language being the most important medium of
communication and education, their development
occupies an important place in the National Policy on
Education and Programme of Action. Therefore,
promotion and development of 22 languages listed in
the Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India, including
classical languages on the one hand and English as well
as the foreign languages on the other hand have
received due attention.
Some of the important programmes that continued
during the year under report include Promotion and
development of Sanskrit language through different
Sanskrit institutions; development of Hindi and training
of Hindi teachers from non-Hindi States; promotion of
all Indian languages of VIII Schedule by making
extensive use of information technology; appointment
of Indian languages teachers; Scholarship Scheme for
meritorious children as well as scholarship for students
of non-Hindi States for study of Hindi; and
strengthening of cultural and human values in
education in schools and non-formal educational
centres with the help of the reputed organisations.
All these schemes will be continued in the next financial
year. The scheme for Education in Human Values has
been strengthened for wider coverage and the
scholarship scheme is being modified to enable
meritorious children, including single girl child
students, to avail of the scholarships. Similarly, the
scheme for development of Sanskrit language has also
been modified and further strengthened.
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Annual Report 2005-06
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