Adult education programme can benefit from literacy drive

NEW DELHI - Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari Monday said the adult literacy programme “Saakshar Bharat” should look on to benefit from the infrastructure created under the literacy drive “Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan”.

“The important point is how to bring convergence between the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Saakshar Bharat, Purandeswari said addressing an interactive meeting with State Literacy Mission Authority and Zila Lok Shiksha Samities on implementation of Saakshar Bharat.

Using common infrastructure can be looked at, she said.

The minister also sought the support of the of Gram Panchayats in the implementation of the programme especially with regard to proper listing of beneficiaries.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a flagship programme for universalisation of elementary education for children between 6-14 years of age.

Saakshar Bharat, meanwhile, aims at imparting functional literacy and numeracy to non-literate and non-numerate adults in above 15 age group and enable, them to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalence to formal education system.

Literacy is the most significant element in empowerment of people with skills and knowledge and giving them access to productive employment. Keeping in context the fact that India is among the countries with the largest number of illiterates, adult literacy will empower the beneficiaries towards better employment opportunities, she said.

The minister added that with 33 per cent reservation for women at local Government and Panchayat level, the importance of literacy among women as a means to empower them when they hold these electoral posts must also be appreciated.