Illiterate Chakmas long to learn ABC

Aizawl, Jun 13(UNI) Keeping aside backwardness in other sectors, Chakma dominated areas in southern parts of Mizoram are the major drawbacks in the Education department's mission to overtake Kerala in literacy.

School Education Minister Dr R Lalthangliana had also admitted this, and said that special focus would be given to these parts of the state in his literacy drive.

Ironically, the fund meant for literacy drive in the Chakma Autonomous District Council is still on its way - or more likely, had gone astray - according to the Mizoram Chakma Students' Organisation.

''We had requested the School Education minister to sanction fund for literacy drive in our district, following which he okayed Rs 1,97,400,'' MCSU president KT Chakma told UNI today.

The fund had been released to the Adult Education department, which instead of handing it over to them, conducted awareness campaign only for name's sake, that too only thrice in the district.

''Two or three officials of the Adult Education department came and instructed all the school headmasters to send their students, who need not learn 'ABC', to the public school for the campaign. No illiterate adult attended the programme,'' the student leader added.

The MCSU president informed that the literacy percentage in the Chakma district is below 30.

UNI