NEW DELHI, SEPT. 4. The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, today said indigenous knowledge is being threatened by rapid western scientific and material progress and suggested going back to Indian traditional societal values for a glorious future. Addressing the first CBSE teachers awards function on the eve of the Teachers' Day, Dr. Joshi said though the present age has witnessed a technological revolution, it is not culturally deeply rooted and the western individual finds himself alienated.

Dr. Joshi said the answer lies in going back to norms and values propagated by Indian sages, which alone could free mankind from its present ills.

Our New Delhi Staff Reporter writes:

Highlighting the efforts being made by his Ministry for the teaching community, Dr. Joshi said the amount of National Award for Teachers given on Teacher's Day was proposed to be increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000.

The hike in prize money of awards to scientists and eminent professors was proposed between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 50,000.

The awards this year, in the form of a certificate of commendation, a cash incentive of Rs. 10,000 and a shawl, were given to 12 teachers for their outstanding achievements and contribution to the field.

The awardees, belonging to independent schools affiliated to the CBSE, are Dr. B. Singh (Uttar Pradesh), Dr. R.K. Marwaha and Ms. Rekha Mishra (Gujarat), Ms. Anjali Mukherjee (Chattisgarh), Dr. R. Ramaswamy and Ms. Lalitha Venkataraman (Tamil Nadu), Mr. P. Vijayachandran (Kerala), Ms. Chitra Nakra and Ms. Saroj Sharma (New Delhi), Mr. Uttara Gogoi Barua (Assam), Mr. Man Mohan Joshi (Sultanate of Oman) and Ms. Mariyu Sageer (Saudi Arabia).