Arunachal, AP and Rajasthan dists to get Literacy Day honour

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) The International Literacy Day will be celebrated here tomorrow in a big way and districts and institutions performing well in the field of literacy will be honoured with national awards on the occasion.

Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan and Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu will be honoured with this year's Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award for spreading literacy.

Besides, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Aurangabad in Maharashtra, State Resource Centre, Kolkata in West Bengal and Department of Adult and Continuing Education &Extension, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh have been selected for NLM-UNESCI Award which is given to institutions for commendable work in the field of literacy and adult education.

The award was instituted by the National Literacy Mission (NLM) in collaboration with UNESCO in 1998. The award includes a cash prize of Rs.50,000/- and a citation.

Universities, State Resource Centres, Jan Shikshan Sansthans receive the award on the basis of the work done by them in material development, training, research and evaluation, vocational training, outreach activities and innovations [practices, materials and training].

The Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award was instituted in 1996 in memory of Satyen Maitra, eminent educationist, adult educator and a social reformer who had a long association with Bengal Social Service League, a reputed NGO based in Kolkata. The award is given to the selected districts implementing Total Literacy Campaign, Post-literacy Programme and Continuing Education Programme. - These awards will be presented at a function in Vigyan Bhawan where large number fo volunteers and learners of adult education programme, school children who are actively taking part in the literacy programmes, senior government officials, diplomats, representatives of the International organizations and NGOs will participate.

UNI NAZ SAM RK1355