The government’s new literacy scheme, ‘Padhna Likhna Abhiyan’, will be a leap forward for achieving the goal of total literacy by 2030, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said. 

The principal target of the programme is to impart functional literacy and numeracy to 55 lakh non-literate and non-numerate adults in both rural and urban areas across the country in the age group of 15 years and above.

The ministry of education has made efforts for eradication of illiteracy in the country over the years resulting in achieving substantial progress towards improving access to adult education and learning. However, India still has a sizeable number of illiterates.

Illiteracy in India

The main focus of adult education has been on its very bottom tier, which is, basic literacy. Reason being that, at the time of Independence in 1947, 86 per cent of India’s population was illiterate.

As per Census 2011, the absolute number of illiterates of the country in the 15+ age group is 25.76 crore (male-9.08 crore, female-16.68 crore). 

In India, literacy and particularly adult literacy has been a national priority. India has been celebrating International Literacy Day on September 8 to reaffirm its national commitment to achieve the goal and objectives of literacy and express solidarity with the international community in its efforts to eradicate illiteracy.   

Earlier efforts for eradication of illiteracy 

A series of programmes for promotion of adult literacy were launched by the government since 1951. 

Social Education (1951-56): Programme gave importance to literacy, extension, general education, leadership training and social consciousness. 

Gram Shikshan Mohim (1959): A movement for literacy in the rural areas aimed at imparting basic literacy skills within a period of four months.

Farmer’s Functional Literacy Project (1967-68): An inter-ministerial project for farmers’ training and functional literacy.

Functional Literacy for Adult Women (1975-76): Scheme included a component which enabled illiterate adult women to acquire functional skills along with literacy, to gain better awareness of health, hygiene, child care practices and in the process to facilitate attitudinal changes.

National Adult Education Programme (1978): First nationwide literacy programme taken up at macro level to eradicate illiteracy through project approach. Massive programme aimed at educating 100 million non-literate adults in the age-group of 15-35 years within a time frame of five years.

Rural Functional Literacy Project & Mass Programme of Functional Literacy (1986): To impart functional literacy to all illiterate persons in the 15-35 age group who were living in the rural areas by organising specified number of literacy centres. Launched on May 1, 1986 by involving National Service Scheme (NSS) and other students in colleges and universities.

National Literacy Mission (1988): On May 5, 1988 a mission mode programme for promoting adult literacy was launched as National Literacy Mission (NLM) countrywide to impart functional literacy to non-literates in the country in the age group of 15-35 years in a time bound manner. 

It aimed at imparting functional literacy to non-literates in a time bound manner. Since the inception of the NLM in 1988, 127.45 million persons were made literate, of which, 60 per cent were females while 23 per cent  belonged to the categories of Scheduled Castes and 12 per cent to Scheduled Tribes. 

The scheme of National Literacy Mission was concluded in September, 2009 on account of launch of a new variant of the scheme under the name of Saakshar Bharat (Literate India). 

Saakshar Bharat (2009): During 11th Five Year Plan, a need was felt to modify the strategy of NLM programme. Accordingly Saakshar Bharat was launched on September 8, 2009 as a new variant of NLM. Saakshar Bharat programme was sanctioned in phased manner since 2009 in 404 eligible districts of 26 states and one Union Territory and was given an interim extension till March 31, 2018 by Department of Expenditure.

Padhna Likhna Abhiyan

In order to ensure complete eradication of illiteracy, the main objective of the scheme of adult education will be basic literacy.

The scheme shall have a flexible approach and innovative methodologies such as involving school and college students and other volunteers of such schemes as NCC, NSS and NYKS, for imparting basic literacy.  It will also enable creation of digital e-material, mobile app, etc.

The principal target of the abhiyan is to impart functional literacy to 55 lakh adult illiterates in the age group of 15 years and above under basic literacy programme in a period of one year (2020-21). 

Within these targets, the abhiyan will focus on women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) minorities, and other disadvantaged groups. The states/UTs will distribute the allotted target to districts selected by them.

The programme entails identification of non-literates through a survey, area wise mapping of their learning needs and imparting them instructor based teaching of about 120 hours, spread over four months or beyond, depending on motivation of the learner and local conditions. A certificate will be issued to every successful learner based on a Basic Literacy Assessment Test against learning outcomes. This will open up opportunities for further education through Open Learning Systems. 

National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA) constituted under the National Literacy Mission will continue to formulate policies, administer and supervise the scheme at the national level. 

It has proposed to set up a National Centre for Literacy (to be housed in NCERT) at national level and State Centre for Literacy (within SCERTs/SIEs) in states/UTs. Both national and state centres will be assisted by the Technical Support Group.

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