Saakshar Bharat Programme

It was launched in 2009 with the aim of to further promote and strengthen Adult Education, specially of women, by extending educational options to those adults who, having lost the opportunity of access to formal education and crossed the standard age for receiving such education, now feel a need for learning of any type, including, literacy, basic education (equivalency to formal education), vocational education (skill development), physical and emotional development, practical arts, applied science, sports, and recreation.

  • The program has four basic objectives –
    • Impart functional literacy and numeracy to non-literate and non-numerate adults.
    • Enable the neo-literate adults to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to formal educational system.
    • Impart non and neo-literates relevant skill development programmes to improve their earning and living conditions.
    • Promote a learning society by providing opportunities to neo literate adults for continuing education.

Category wise targets under literacy programme (Millions)

Category

Male

Female

Total

SC

4

10

14

ST

2

6

8

Muslims

2

10

12

Others

2

34

36

Total

10

60

70

  • The Adult Education Centres (Lok Siksha Kendra) are the operational arm of Saakshar Bharat, responsible for the organization and delivery of classes. Adult Education Centres are established in Gram Panchayats (local self government at village level) on the basis of one per a population of 5,000. The centre offers various services: registration, a venue for teaching, a library and reading rooms. It is also used as a centre for promoting and practicing sports, adventure and cultural activities.

Performance

  • The 2011 census showed literacy in India has increased from 64.84% in 2001 to 74.04% in 2011 and the male-female literacy gap has reduced from 21.59% in 2001 to 16.68% in 2011.
  • The total number of illiterates has decreased from 304.15 million to 272.95 million.

Challenges and Solutions

  • No update on the continuation of scheme post 12th FYP. It must be continued to ensure that overall/wider objective is achieved.
  • The Planning Commission in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) has recommended that the existing programme structures, as well as the resource support bodies, be remodeled, strengthened and further aligned to the goals of lifelong learning and literacy.
  • Greater involvement of active volunteers, CSOs, Scientific institutions would help to make the scheme more effective.

Related Content