Chief Minister Raman Singh has congratulated the two tribal districts of the State — Dantewada and Jashpur — for getting selected for National literacy Award.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of pride for the State that on the occasion of International literacy Day on September 8, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu will felicitate both these tribal districts of Chhattisgarh in a ceremony to be organized in New Delhi.
This award is indicator of growing awareness regarding literacy and education in tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, he said. Singh also congratulated the people of Temri Gram Panchayat of Raipur district for being selected for National literacy Award.
It is noteworthy that under Sakshar Bharat Abhiyan, more than 78,000 people out of 84, 208 people surveyed in Naxal-violence affected Dantewada district have become literate, Singh said.
Chief Executive Officer of Jila Panchayat Dr Gaurav Singh informed that all 732 prisoners of Dantewada District Jail have also become completely literate, after getting associated with this campaign, and Dantewada district has now come into the category of 100% literate Jails.
District Administration had also conducted literacy campaign for industrial labourers in Kirandul iron ore mine area of Dantewada district.
Digital literacy is also being emphasized in the district. People in the district are being made digital literate through ‘Aakhar Jhaapi’.
CEO of Jashpur Deepak Soni informed that under Chief Minister Skill Development Scheme, neo-literates were associated with skill development so as to make them employable and digital literacy is also being promoted, for which Jashpur district has been selected for National literacy Award, he said.
Notably, the 51st International literacy Day is being celebrated on September 8, 2017 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi and the theme announced by UNESCO is Rs literacy in a digital world’. The programme would include; felicitation to the dignitaries, distribution of Saakshar Bharat Awards to the best performing States, Districts, Gram Panchayats and NGOs, the Central Government has informed in a press release.
The International literacy Day is celebrated on September 8 every year throughout the world. On this day, in the year 1965 the World Congress of Ministers of Education met in Tehran for the first time to discuss the programme of education at the international level. The UNESCO in its 14th Session in November, 1966, declared 8th September as the International literacy Day. Since then, IlD is celebrated on September 8 every year by most of the member countries. The key aspect of the observance of IlD is to mobilize public opinion in favour of struggle against illiteracy. IlD is a forum to disseminate information on literacy and raise the public
awareness and the significance of literacy for individual and national development.
The National literacy Mission Authority started celebrating International literacy Day every year from 1988 onwards. The eradication of illiteracy has been one of the major national concerns of the Govt. of India since independence. The occasion of IlD is used for raising public awareness to eradicate illiteracy and create environment in favour of adult education programmes.
From 1996 onwards some new elements were introduced to make the programme more attractive. In the year 1996 a ‘Mashal March’ was organized involving school students and literacy functionaries. In subsequent years, variety of activities were included as a part of IlD celebration which includes: Competitions (Rangoli, Drawing etc) for the literacy functionaries at the State level by SlMAs, Exhibition of JSS products (KRITI), International Conferences, Seminars, Cultural Progrmmes etc.