Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday stated that there is no age-limit to pursue learning and education and learning can be done by anybody and at any age.
Addressing Mukhyamantri Akshar Samman Samaroh organised by the State literacy Mission Authority, Singh asserted, “literacy brings in light of knowledge to an illiterate person. Education gives confidence and new energy to a person. He gets a fillip to pursue higher education,’’.
Singh who was the chief guest and felicitated various lok Shiksha Samitis and citizens who inspired others under the Shakshar Bharat Programme. Chief Minister also launched 'Mukhyamantri Shahari Shaksharta Karyakram'.
Zila lok Shiksha Samiti Raigarh, Development lok Shiksha Dharsiwa (Raipur district), Khadgawa (Korea district) and Kharsia (Raigarh district) were honoured for their exemplary work in the field of literacy. Gram Panchayat-level lok Shiksha Samitis were also felicitated.
Singh congratulated the inspiring leaders and other participants. He also unveiled the Surguja district literacy poster, Shakshar Bharat brochure and 'Shakshar Bharat Karykram-Rashtriya Star Par Agrani Chhattisgarh' booklet.
School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap, State Education Commission Chairperson Chandrabhushan Sharma, State Seeds' Corporation Chairperson Shyam Bais, MlA Sarojini Banjare and School Education Secretary Vikaasheel and senior officers were present at the function.
Chief Minister Singh said that there were many challenges when the new State Chhattisgarh was carved out in November, 2000 and literacy was one among them. Shakshar Bharat Mission had been launched and it had been proved to be very successful.
“The State is not only literate but most of them are 'Digitally literate'. The target is to attain cent per cent literacy in the near future. There is a need for special efforts in districts where literacy is less than fifty per cent,’’ Singh informed.
Kedar Kashyap said that the literacy Mission is being successfully organised under the leadership of Raman Singh. Chhattisgarh had been bagging several awards at the national-level for the past several years. The State had also bagged the Best State award in the implementation of literacy programmes. He congratulated the entire team of State literacy Mission. There is relentless progress in the spread of literacy in the state. Raigarh District Collector Alarmel Mangai received the District-level Akshar Samman by Chief Minister Singh.