Write Sanitation, Hygiene Books For Neoliterates

New Delhi, Dec 20 (UNI) Acknowledging that India's Literacy Mission started by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has lost its character and push after his death, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today asked writers to make the movement vibrant.

Inaugurating a workshop for writers, Mr Singh said the literacy campaign has remained merely visual. He asked participants to help take the Mission forward.

Many leading writers taking part in the workshop dwelt on how best to fulfil the reading needs of 120 million neo-literates.

They made several suggestions, including publications in regional languages.

Minister of State for HRD D Purandareswari told participants that although India has achieved a literacy rate of 64.8 per cent, it has a long way to go.

She urged the writers present to produce books on sanitation and hygiene to help improve the quality of life.

Critics say the vast neo-literate community come up over the past two decades now poses a problem-- insofar as they do not have much to read and risk losing unlearning unless they remain in practice.

The neo-literates attain the educational level equivalent to Class 4-5 levels but their literacy skills are fragile and at risk unless they keep practising.

Ministry officials acknowledge that the continuing education of the neo-literates and providing them interesting and varied reading material constitutes a daunting challenge.

The Mission sets up Continuing Education Centres in remote areas to serve as reading rooms for neo-literates as well as for dropouts and others without formal schooling.

The challenge now is to provide books which interest them and make them want more.

Hence the question: What sort of material is adequate for grownups with the reading skills of a fifth grader.

Translations, for instance, are not in a simple enough language for a neo-literate to understand.

The participants listed to participate included Prof Manoj Das, Allam Rajaiah, Dr Indira Goswami, Kamleshwar, Rajendra Yadav, Ashok Chakradhar, Krishna Sobti, Prof K Sachidanandan, Dr S S Noor, Shamshur Rehman Faroqui, Prof Qamar Rais, Ajeet Cour and Ms Gita Hariharan.

UNI MJ YA DB2151