2 of 3 Indians Now Literate: HRD

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) Notwithstanding India's runaway population growth, almost two out of three Indians are now literate-- as against one out of five at independence, authorities taking stock on the eve of International Literacy Day tomorrow said.

Census data cited by the Human Resource Development Ministry showed that the literacy rate has increased from 18.33 per cent in 1951 to 64.84 per cent in 2001.

The major part of the last five decades has witnessed exponential population growth at nearly two per cent per annum, a Ministry statement pointed out.

The male literacy rate grew to 75.26 per cent and the female literacy rate to 53.67 per cent-- narrowing the literacy gender gap from 24.84 per cent in 1991 to 21.59 per cent in 2001.

This gap is the smallest-- 3.97 per cent-- in Mizoram, followed by 5.82 per cent in Meghalaya and 6.52 per cent in Kerala, the state with the highest literacy rate.

The overall 12.63 per cent decadal increase reflected the highest since independence, the statement said, adding that all States and Union Territories reported increase in literacy rates during 1991-2001.

The male literacy in all states now exceeded 60 per cent-- except in Bihar, where it was 59.68 per cent.

For the first time, the statement noted that the total number of illiterates fell by 24.77 million.

A National Literacy Mission was launched in May 1988 as a Technology Mission to impart functional literacy to non-literates in the country in the 15-35-year age group-- productive and reproductive period of life-- in a time-bound manner.

The Mission goal was to impart functional literacy to 80 million illiterate persons in 15-35 age group-- 30 million by 1990 and additional 50 million by 1995.

Now its aim is to attain a sustainable threshold literacy rate of 75 per cent by 2007.

It is one of three instruments for eradicating illiteracy from India, the other two being Universalisation of Elementary Education and Non-formal Education.

The Mission has adopted the campaign mode as a dominant strategy through which not only the 3 R's are imparted to the beneficiaries, but also an awareness of their rights and responsibilities towards their family, society and the country.

Thus the campaigns not only spread literacy but also family welfare, immunisation, mother and child health care, conservation of environment, communal harmony, cohesion and national integration.

UNI MJ PK DS1137