Padhna Likhna Abhiyan to raise UP’s literacy rate, help 5 cr illiterates
PRAYAGRAJ : The state government will teach existing around five crore illiterate people in Uttar Pradesh aged 15 years and above how to read and write under the Centre’s literacy scheme ‘Padhna Likhna Abhiyan’. The scheme was launched in 2020-21 but could not be undertaken due to the pandemic, said officials.
With the Covid situation now under control, the state basic education department has begun preparations to undertake this drive, they add. This mission would be started with the help of serving and retired teachers, shikshamitras, students, NCC and NSS volunteers across the state.
As per the 2011 census, UP has 4.82 crore illiterates aged 15 years and above. As per the 2011 census data, the three districts, including Moradabad, Sitapur and Prayagraj, are the bottom three among the 75 districts in terms of literacy among people aged over 15 years.
Moradabad has around 14.55 lakh literate people in this age category while Sitapur has 12.74 lakh and Prayagraj has 12.62 lakh illiterates.
Now under this mission, they would be identified and special effort would be made to make them literate by teaching them to how read and write through volunteers and teachers, said basic shiksha adhikari (BSA), Prayagraj, Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha.
He said already a list of illiterates was being compiled for the district and further steps would be taken in accordance with the state government orders. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has also prepared a dedicated 120-hour course aimed at transforming illiterates into literates.
The state government can even get its own course prepared from SCERT as per the guidelines issued by the central government.
“The aim is to form small groups of eight to 10 illiterate people and teach them this course in four months,” said a senior basic education department official aware of the development. This scheme will also focus on the basic literacy component. The scheme will specially focus on women, Schedules Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), minorities, other disadvantaged groups and aspirational districts.