India Has a Large Population of Illiterates: President
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, said Thursday that achieving universal literacy is not possible without mass participation.
“If we follow the principle of ‘Each one, Teach one’ success can be achieved in this direction,” he said, adding that India continues to have a large population of illiterates.
Mukherjee was attending the 50th International Literacy Day Celebrations as Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that it is time for us to identify the critical areas that need to be addressed. Joint action by government and non-government organizations is necessary so that we can generate momentum to achieve hundred percent literacy, Mukherjee suggested.
[ Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan to Star in Thugs of Hindostan ]
He said that literacy movement is a continuous cycle as regular follow up is necessary to not only make people literate but also keep them literate.
The President said that besides pursuing the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNESCO is also launching a ‘Global Alliance for Literacy’ to promote literacy as the foundation for life-long learning. India needs to strengthen and synthesize its efforts in line with these global initiatives. He wished these programmes all success.
Among others present on the occasion were Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka and Dr. Subhash Chandra Khuntia, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
