The Union government has sanctioned another seven districts in the state for this programme taking the number to 12 now
Guwahati: The centre has sanctioned another seven districts in Assam for the centre’s flagship program —Saakshar Bharat —taking the total number of districts to 12 for the program.
The Saakshar Bharat program is aimed at 100 per cent literacy of female adults, where 50 per cent or less female adults are non-literates.
Director General of National Literacy Mission Jagmohan Singh Raju here said, “The Saakshar Bharat is one of the 18 flagship programs directly monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office and we want that Assam provide a fillip to the implementation of the projects within the target deadline of March 2012.”
The program is already underway in five districts of Sonitpur, Karbi Anglong, Darrang, Dhemaji and Bongaigaon and would soon begin works in seven other districts of Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Morigaon, Hailakandi, Goalpara and Tinsukia. Singh said the center has already sanctioned Rs 14 crore for the seven districts of the state.
Singh held a meeting with more than 400 representatives and panchayat heads from the 12 districts and reviewed the implementation of the program.
“Female adult literacy is very poor in Dhubri (35%) as per 2001 census and we have asked the state agency to expedite the implementation of Saakshar Mission program. We will take up steps to ensure that the problems being faced by the agencies are tackled as per the norms,” Singh said.
“Literacy of the women is very important because without basic education, we cannot ensure implementation of other important rights
of RTI, RTE and other fundamental rights. In Dhubri district, two-third of adult female is non-literates,” he said.
The Saakshar Bharat program was launched in September 2009 by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 365 districts were included for the program.
