Minister for school education and SCERT, Nyiewang Konyak on Thursday launched the Saakshar Bharat, an adult literacy programme, and expressed optimism that Nagaland would achieve cent percent literacy with implementation of the programme. Saakshar Bharat, a government of India initiative, under the ministry of HRD was launched on September 8, 2009 by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, to create a literate society through a variety of teaching learning programmes for non-literate and neo-literate of 15 years and above. It aims to recast India’s National Literacy Mission to focus on literacy of women, which is expected to increase the literate population by 70 million adults, including 60 million women. The launching programme was held at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima. Nyeiwang Konyak said that the new flagship programme of adult literacy, Saakshar Bharat, has different approach comparing to other adult literacy programme adopted by Nagaland over the years. In this regard, he said that Nagaland was likely to achieve 100% literacy within a short period, given the fact that it has already achieved 80.11% in literacy. Besides elevating literacy with special focus on women literacy, Konyak apprised that Saakshar Bharat will also aim to achieve 80% literacy by 2012, to reduce male-female literacy gap and gender gap, to take necessary step for skill development etc. State chief secretary Lalthara said that the Saakshar Bharat programme would take the elders of the society to a new horizon of education. He stated that it would be a good programme for farmers as the programme would be implemented even in remote villages. Earlier, commissioner and secretary of school education and SCERT, Imkonglemba gave the introductory speech while Bendangkokba, member secretary of SLMA, chaired the programme.
Saakshar Bharat, sponsored by both central & state government
- Funding Pattern: A total financial outlay for Saakshar Bharat during the last 3 years of XI Plan period is Rs. 6502.70 crores, out of which the Central share will be Rs. 4993.02 crore. The share of funding between Central and State government is in the ratio of 75:25 and in the case of North-Eastern States including Sikkim in the ratio of 90:10, respectively.
- Objective: Impart functional literacy to illiterate adults in the age group of 15+
- Enable the neo-literates to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to formal education system and establish a learning society by providing opportunities to neo-literates for lifelong learning.
- How to Avail: To implement the programme, 1.70 lakh Lok Shiksha Kendras (Adult Education Centers) will be established in Panchayat grams of the districts covered under the programme. The benefit of the scheme can be availed by contacting Lok Shiksha Kendras in various regions.
- SCs/STs and other disadvantaged groups and adolescents in rural areas in low literacy states will be other focused groups.
- Each focused group and area, will have a specific target and for each target, an explicit approach and strategy.
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