Chasing 100%, this time, Chandigarh literacy

Governments, irrespective of the number of seats they command in assembly or parliament, have a long-standing obsession with '100%'. Toilets, tap water, literacy... whatever the issue, it must be solved 'cent per cent'. The ambition is commendable. The execution? Um, not quite 10/10. The latest entrant in the wannabe 100% club is Chandigarh, which is now gunning for 100% literacy.

A super goal, sure. But why does the plan seem more enthusiasm than strategy? The administration has declared that every government schoolteacher and principal must now 'adopt' a non-literate adult and teach him or her reading, writing and numeracy.

Clearly, between lesson planning, exam duty, PTAs and surviving admin chaos, teachers were dying for a side hustle. The city currently has around 92% literacy rate. This initiative should push the number above 95%, say officials.


And the reward for this effort? A glorious 10 bonus marks for state awards. One mark if your adult learns to read, another if she passes the test. Also, let's not pretend this is a first. Remember 'Each One, Teach One'? We all rushed to adopt someone, chased numbers, and then... not much.

National literacy still hovers around 78%. Maybe it's time to try something wild - like building proper infrastructure, funding real programmes and giving teachers fewer side quests, and more actual support.