Few takers for the three R's

GANDHINAGAR: An experts’ committee appointed by the Narendra Modi government has sharply criticised the administration for being lethargic in executing the total literacy campaign.
In its recent report, which was submitted to the government after a monthlong study, the 10-man committee chaired by Unesco former director Prof Ravindra Dave, says that the campaign has so far been activated in just eight of the 25 districts because of a severe financial crunch.Even in these eight districts, the campaign has not been given the importance it deserves.
“The result of the failure to make funds available has been that the programme suffers from inertia. No salaries have been paid for 15 months — at some places for 29 months — to the helpers appointed to carry forward the continuous literacy plan,� says the committee.
Called the Core Group For Achieving Total Literacy, the panel says that the recent “nearly cent per cent success in the drive for enrolling children in schools� will not fulfil its mission till the high drop-out rate is contained. Simultaneously, it recommends, a crusade should be launched for educating those between 15 and 35 years.
“In 1991, Gujarat was 14th among Indian states in the literacy rate. In 2001, the state went down to the 15th position. As for female literacy, Gujarat’s 16th position in 1991 came down to 21 in 2001.
Worse still, the disparity between the male and female literacy rate reached percentage points,� the report says, adding, “The recent house-to-house survey shows that currently 3.85 lakh children aged 6 to 14 years are out of school today.�
The report regrets that out of Gujarat’s 222 talukas, 115 have a female literacy rate lower than the national average. The report underlines how the voluntary agencies as also the village literacy committees, formed in large numbers, have lost interest in the campaign. It says, “Lack of education is likely become a major hurdle in Gujarat’s social, economic, industrial and health development.�
“There is a danger that the state may be left behind Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and other states. Hence the need to start the literacy programme immediately for three to five years.�
The report seeks the appointment an administrative officer to monitor the campaign and upgradation of the district education officers’ status, while employing with necessary staff.
Similarly, it wants the guardian secretaries of each district, all the districtlevel officials, MLAs, MPs, district panchayat chiefs, mayors, and others to join the campaign.