President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday emphasised on stepping up efforts towards complete eradication of illiteracy from the country with enhanced focus on improving literacy rate among the SC, ST, minorities and disadvantaged sections of the society.
“Our objective should be to bring the literacy rate not only on par with the world average but to the levels attained by the leading societies of the world,” he said while addressing the International literacy Day function in the Capital.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, who had said that illiteracy is a sin and shame and must be eradicated, Mukherjee encouraged the corporate and private sectors, voluntary agencies and civil society organisations to make efforts to improve adult literacy.
The country’s march toward “total literacy” will depend on meaningful and effective advocacy and support of society at large to bring illiterates into the mainstream of literacy, he said.
“Today, more than 67 years after our Independence, where are weIJ The literacy rate has increased by four times from 18 per cent in 1951 to about 74 per cent in 2011. Despite this, our literacy level is below the world average of 84 per cent,” the President said. Mukherjee said gender disparity also needs attention as male and female literacy rates stand at 80.89 and 64.64 per cent respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said literacy programmes must be sensitive to local cultures and should also be linked with opportunities of skill development and help augment employment. Awards were presented by the President to various districts in the country under the Sakshar Bharat Abhiyan programme and adult literacy mission.