State delegates participate in adult education, Panchayati Raj convention
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, June 14 2013 :
Delegates of the District Literary Samitis from Manipur attended the convention of Ministers of Adult Education, Panchayati Raj and District Panchayat Presidents of Saakshar Bharat States held in New Delhi yesterday.
The delegates comprised of Samiti Chairman and Member Secretary of Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Thoubal, including a Member Secretary of the State Literacy Mission.
In his address, Union Human Resources Development Minister Dr Pallam Raju emphasizing on the role of Panchayti Raj institutions, said that key component of Saaksar Bharat program were the Panchayti Raj institutions which plays a vital role in its mission to create an equal, inclusive and literate India with 7 crore illiterates.
While expressing satisfaction over rising literacy rate as per the new Census, that has risen from 64.8% in 2001 to 73% in 2011, the Minister acknowledged that the Ministry has a long way to go in the area of female literacy, particularly in rural areas.
Minister of State for HRD, Dr Shashi Tharoor noted that the Saaksar Bharat programme has not been able to achieve its objective as low priority is given to it by the administration.
And that a convention such as this should be a reflection on the effectiveness of Gram Panchayats The one-day Meeting was attended among others by the Dy Chairman of Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia and State Ministers of Adult Education and Panchayati Raj.
A report on the Saakshar Bharat Programmes in Manipur presented to the convention by the delegates stated that a total of 257 Adult Education Centers in 4 Districts of Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, Thoubal have been established.
That under Public Private Partnership (PPP) 20 model AECs are functioning with financial assistance from Containers Corporation of India Ltd.
These model AECs have computer facility, PA system, Projector, library, reading room, recreation, games, group meetings, training etc.
The State has enrolled 77,263 adults till March 2013.Out of this 68,373 learners successfully completed required assessments, while 55,678 learners passed all the assessments.
Moreover the State Samitis are planning to initiate Skill Development Programmes.
The State report mentioned that acute electricity problem in Manipur is one major hindrance in the implementation of Saakshar Bharat programmes.
Presently only 2 JSS � Jan Shiksha Sangsthans functions in Thoubal and Senapati.
The delegates also placed before the convention for providing solar lanterns, provisions for an additional funds for JSS, honorarium for the 514 odd Preraks, district coordinators and teacher volunteers employed.
Saakshar Bharat is a Central Government initiative launched in 2009 to create a literate society through a variety of teaching learning programmes for non-literate and neo-literate of 15 years and above.
It is operational in 372 districts covering nearly 1.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.
In Manipur the Saaksha Bharat programme was launched in January 2010 for covering basic literacy of 77,647 adult illiterates on the basis of 2011 census and set up 257 Adult Education Centres in four districts� Chandel, Senapati, Tamenlong and Thoubal.
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