Question : Literacy

(a) whether the percentage of literacy achieved under National Literacy Mission has been
below the target set during the last three years;
(b) if so, the target set up during the last three years and the extent of its achievement along
with the details thereof in Maharashtra;
(c) the number of women who have achieved literacy during the last three years, State-wise;
(d) the details of the existing school buildings and community centres which are being used
as study centres for school children in the evening, State-wise;
(e) the funds sanctioned and spent during the last three years and the current year for National
Literacy Mission (NLM) along with the achievements made so far under the said scheme,
State-wise;
(f) whether the Government proposes to provide special assistance to the States having low
level of adult women literacy and to prevent school dropouts and if so, the details thereof;
and
(g) the financial assistance given by the Government during the last three years and the current year to achieve hundred percent literacy?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ''NISHANK'')

(a) & (b) Plan-wise targets are fixed to achieve higher levels of literacy in a phased manner.
The target was set to raise the overall literacy rate of the country to 80 per cent by the end of
XII Five Year Plan Period i.e. 31.03.2017. The literacy data in the country is collected
through decennial census operation conducted by Registrar General of India. The last Census
was held in 2011. A statement indicating State and gender-wise details of literacy rate in the
country, in the age group of 7 and above, as per Census 2011 is Annexure-I.
Under the Saakshar Bharat Programme, against the overall target of making 7 crore
adult non-literates to be made literates, around 7.64 crore learners successfully passed the
biannual Basic Literacy Assessment Tests conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling
(NIOS) between August, 2010 to March, 2018 and were certified as literates.
A statement indicating State/UT-wise learners declared successful in the biannual
Basic Literacy Assessment Tests conducted by NIOS between August, 2010 to March, 2018
under Saakshar Bharat Programme, including Maharashtra is at Annexure-II.
(c) A statement indicating State/UT-wise number of women learners declared successful in
the biannual Basic Literacy Assessment Test conducted by NIOS under Saakshar Bharat
Programme during 2016-17 & 2017-18 is at Annexure-III.
(d) No school buildings and community centres are being used as study centres for evening
class.
(e) A statement indicating details of State/UT-wise funds sanctioned under the Saakshar
Bharat Programme during the last three years is at Annexure-IV. A statement indicating
State/UT-wise learners declared successful in the biannual Basic Literacy Assessment Tests
conducted by NIOS conducted from August 2010 to March 2018 under Saakshar Bharat
Programme is at Annexure-II.
(f) In order to focus on the areas where the literacy levels are low, the Department of School
Education & Literacy (SE&L) has identified Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs).
Initially 3073 EBBs were identified on the basis of the twin criteria of Female Literacy Rate
being below the national average of 46.13 per cent and Gender Gap in Literacy being above
the national average of 21.59 per cent. Both these criteria had been earmarked by the
Registrar General of India (RGI).
Further, 406 more blocks were included, out of which 404 blocks had rural Female
Literacy Rate of less than 45 per cent, irrespective of the Gender Gap. In addition one Block
from West Bengal with SC Rural Female Literacy Rate of 9.47 per cent was also included,
taking the total number of EBBs to 3479.
To promote Girl’s Education, Department of School Education and Literacy has
sanctioned Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in EBBs.
(g) A statement indicating details of State/UT-wise funds sanctioned under the Saakshar Bharat
Programme during the last three years is at Annexure-IV.
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