(a) the percentage of literate persons in the country;
(b) the total Dalit population of the country and the number of Dalits who are literate;
(c) whether any assessment has been made on the reasons behind the fact that a large section of Dalit population still remain illiterate despite efforts made by the Government; and
(d) the action plan formulated by the Government to meet this challenge in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (PROF. (DR.) RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA)
(a) The Census, 2011 reported the percentage of literate persons in the country as 72.99.
(b) The Scheduled Castes population reported by the Census, 2011 is 20,13,78,372 out of which 11,37,59,997 are literates.
(c) & (d) A large number of Scheduled Castes population is still illiterate due to various factors including poverty, gender and social category inequities, inadequate access to schooling, etc. Government has reiterated its commitment to establishing a literate society and providing quality literacy to all irrespective of age and gender. Saakshar Bharat, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Adult Education and Skill Development, is being implemented for non-literate adults in the 15 plus age group for enhancing the literacy rate in the rural areas of 410 districts in 26 States and one Union Territory (UT). The main target under the programme is to make 70 million adult non-literates including 14 million SCs as literates under basic literacy. The Government has also enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and is implementing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Programme for universalisation of elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group.