VP calls for highest priority to eradicate illiteracy

Mysore, Apr 14 (UNI) Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today emphasised the need for according highest priority to getting rid of illiteracy to facilitate the overall development of the country.

Speaking after inaugurating a new building of the JSS College at Nanjangud near here, he said literacy opens the gateway to comprehensive economic, social and cultural empowerment of the people, particularly of the women. ''The curse of illiteracy is the single biggest hurdle in the empowerment of the poor. Economic upliftment and empowerment of the poor with access to basic education and health care could only happen after they become literate,'' he said.

Stating that universal literacy and universal education are imperative for the country's progress, he said that however, in this task, the main challenge is of alarming high drop out rate. Most of the drop-outs belong to the poorest segments of society. To bring down the drop-out rate to zero, the poor and the deprived sections need special support least poverty should compel them to withdraw their children from schools. Such issues need to be addressed satisfactorily to achieve the goal of 100 per cent literacy and basic education, the Vice President said.

''In this context it would be helpful to engage the school children in vocational skill learning programmes which would provide them remunerative earnings as well, he advocated.

Mr Shekhawat called upon the educational institutions to provide a learning environment, ethics based conduct and a value system with zero tolerance for corruption and 100 per cent commitment to human values, secular ethos and scientific outlook.

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