The Hindu : National : UNESCO aid not to be availed of

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Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005

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National

UNESCO aid not to be availed of

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India has decided not to take any assistance under the Participation Programme of UNESCO for member-States and has, in turn, asked the U.N. body to disburse funds so saved for programmes in the least developed countries. Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh stated this here on Tuesday while addressing the general body meeting of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO.

According to Mr. Singh, India was fast emerging as a nation and willing to contribute more in the developmental effort of the least developed countries. Referring to the premier institutions of the country such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management besides the language institutes, he said they could well operate as Regional Centres for Cooperation in the region.

The Union Cabinet had recently ratified the `Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage' and approved a proposal to contribute towards the fund created for the purpose. As per the decision, India will contribute at least every two years one per cent of the contribution it makes to the regular budget of UNESCO.

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