Himalayan Times (1962)

Six

Himalayan Times

November 4, 3.962

PREPARE STUDENTS TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOM

Union Education Minister's Call to Teachers

The Union Bduoation
Minister, Dr. K. L. Shri-
mali, called upon the
teachers, both by their
examples and teachings,
"to prepare the younger
generation to dedicate
themselves fro the freedom
of the oountry" in this
hour of crisis. ''While
we are engaged in the
peaceful tasks of building
the nation, we have been
confronted with a na-
tional danger. Our bor.
ders have been violated
treacherously and a cruel
blow aimed at our mother-
land", he added.

Dr. Shrimali who was
speaking on tbe occasion
of distribution of Na-
tional Awards to teachers
for the outstanding ser-
vices rendered by them
to the community obser-
ved that in this hour of
orisis, a great responsibi-
lity rested oo the teachers.
"While our soldiers aro
fighting gallantly in the
d«fenoe of our frontiers,
it is our responsibility to
maintain a hiyh morale
among our people. The
nation has been called
upon to make sacrifices.
I feel sure that our tea-
chers will rise to the
occasion", he hoped.

Referring to the scheme
of National Awards for

Teachers, the Education
Minister was glad to say
that the idea had caught
on and sonis States had
already instituted similar
awards of their own.

Outlining the measures
taken for improving the
conditions of the teachers.
Dr. Shrimali said that it
had been the continuous
endeavour of the Govern-
ment of India to better
the working conditions of
the teaohers in this coun-
try. The average annual
salaries of : primary, mid-
dle, and secondary school
teachers had increased to
Rs 900 Rs. 1100, and
Rs. 1650 respectively in
1961 ae agaiuet Rs. 479,
Rs. 670, and Rs. Ilfi2
respectively in 1949. In
the Third Plan, he said,
there was a provision of
Rs. 14 crores for the im-
provement of salaries of
primary tef.chers, but it
was expected that the
actual expenditure would
go beyond : this figure.

Since the scheme of
National Awards for Tea-
chers was instituted in
19f 8.£9 239 awards have
been given, 136 to pri-
mary and 123 to seoond.
ary teachers. This year
85 Awards are being given,
44 to primary and 41 to
secondary teachers. This

annual function has assu-
med a national character
as' tbe teachers are selec-
ted from all parts of the
oountry and receive their
awards from the Head of
our State.

It has been the con-
tinuous endeavour of the
Government of India to
better the working con-
ditions the teachers m
this country. During the
Second Plan a soheme
was introduced under
which assistance was of-
fered to the State Govern-
ments fur upgrading pay
scales of teachers. Except
in a few States, tbe pay
scales of teachers have
improved as a result of
this, though perhaps not
to the extent we would
have desired. Then it
was observed that the
teachers working in pri-
vate aided schouls were
generally paid less than
the teachers working in
Government scbcols. This
was evidently not right
because both categories cf
teachers did the same
kind of work. It is a
matter for satisfaction
that in a majorily of
States this disparity has
now been removed.

Further, the Planning
Commission have recently
accepted the proposal of
the Ministry of Educa.
tion to give 60% Central
assistance to 5tate Go-
vernments for the improve-
ment of emoluments and