D. Purandeswari calls for increase in literacy budget

Updated on: Wednesday, June 23, 2010

"While making plans and policies both the Federal Government as well as the State governments need to enhance their budgetary allocations in the literacy sector to witness any substantial changes and improvement in the field of education," said D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Research Development (HRD), at an international conference being held at Abuja, from June 21-24.

She is leading the Indian delegation at the Eighth E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting on Education for All at Abuja, Nigeria. This international conference has been organized by UNESCO and the government of Nigeria.

While responding to the discussion on the synthesis of country reports on literacy for development prepared by UNESCO, Purandeswari highlighted that Indian government has earmarked US$1.4 billion towards adult education from the funds allotted towards education sector during the eleventh 5-year plan (2007-12) and 50 percent of the plan funds for education is allotted to elementary education and literacy.

Due to these efforts there has been a considerable increase in the overall literacy level.

Purandeswari also stressed on the importance of gender gap and informed the gathering that India, with its innovative programme called 'Saakshar Bharat - Mission 2012' is focusing mainly on women in those districts where the literacy levels of women is 50 percent or below with a change in the strategy, focusing on villages with the responsibility given to the elected representatives to make their villages illiteracy free.

To achieve this, Indian government is making every effort to devolve the funds directly to the local bodies and involving the village committees in the implementation of literacy programme wherein it is ensured that 50 percent of the women take part in the efforts of the village committees in literacy activities.

The National Literacy Mission Authority has taken all stakeholders into confidence for the successful implementation of the programme which is being monitored by the Prime Minister's Office.

She has also highlighted Government efforts to rope in the private sector in strengthening the resource base for the literacy programme especially under Corporate Social Responsibility.

Lastly, she also recounted efforts to achieve synergy within various ministries to bring together the initiatives towards creating demand for literacy among the stakeholders.

This Conference was attended by the representatives from Nigeria, Indonesia, China, Brazil, Mexico, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt.

D. Purandeswari calls for increase in literacy budget

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