Illiteracy creating rural-urban divide

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Illiteracy is creating a huge rural-urban divide which in turn has increased poverty in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In her Special mention, TDP member N P Durga said the literacy had increased from 44 per cent in 1981 to 66 per cent in 2001.

''The drop rates in schools have gone up, which is taking India backwards,'' she said.

Right to Education Bill must be implemented and the allotment to education must go up from the current four per cent of the GDP to 8 per cent, Ms Durga said.

SP member Mahendra Mohan demanded immediate measures to be taken up to eliminate pollution from Ganga and its ghats.

BJP member Anusuiya Uikey asked for a relief package for the drought-affected regions of Madhya Pradesh. Congress member Janardhan Poojary demanded for allocation of power to Karnataka from the Central Power Surplus Pool.

Congress member Harish Rawat said BPL facilities should be extended to the people of drought and famine-affected regions of Uttarakhand.

Niramala Deshpande (Nominated), expressed concern over arrest of Muslim women in Hyderabad and demanded their immediate release.

Congress member Shantaram Laxman Naik requested for the installation of Wimax internet system in Goa.

AIADMK member C Perumal asked for the strengthening of the Coastal Border Security Scheme.

DMK member Tiruchi Siva said there was a shortage of security personnel in Deccan Air Services.

Congress member Prabha Thakur expressed concern over the unavailability of pure drinking water in the country.

Congress member Santosh Bagrodia said the state of higher education in the country was poor.

PDP member T S Bajwa demanded for the upgradation and widening of Satwara-R S Pura Suchetgarh Road.

BJP member Krishna Lal Balmiki pointed out to the poor economic and educational conditions of ''safai karamcharis'' in the country.

UNI/RT PK AS1825