HRD Ministry seeks more funds for Saakshar Bharat programme

NEW DELHI: Regretting inadequate allocation of funds for the Saakshar Bharat programme, the HRD Ministry has asked the Planning Commission to consider raising budgetary resources for the scheme, with 1.73 crore adults already certified as literate since its launch.

HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju feared that resource constraint could be detrimental for the programme in achieving the national literacy goals as laid in the 12th Plan.

"I would urge the deputy chairman of Planning Commission to consider enhancing allocation of budgetary resources to Saakshar Bharat commensurate with its importance and mandate," he said.

The 12th Plan seeks to achieve 80 per cent literacy with special focus on female literacy.

Towards this end, the Five Year Plan has proposed to revamp Saakshar Bharat to align to the new paradigm of lifelong learning, requiring appropriate infrastructure and additional resources for capacity building of panchayati raj institutions and other implementing agencies.

Addressing a convention of ministers and panchayats on adult education here, Raju also suggested greater convergence between the state and the central programme which aims to address the literacy level.

He observed that success of the Saakshar Bharat programme "lays squarely on panchayati raj institutions", and can work out well if there is increased synergy among them.

"I feel proud to share that in a short span since the programme was launched by the Prime Minister in September, 2009, 1.73 crore adults have been certified as literate till August 2012," he said.

He mentioned states such as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu where the programme is doing "commendably" well.

He said as both Right to Education and Saakshar Bharat programme aims to touch elementary education and adult literacy respectively, the two system of education need to function in tandem as they are complementary to each other.