Question : Skill Development

(a) whether the Government has introduced Saakshar Bharat Scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the areas covered under the said scheme and scheme for support to Voluntary Agencies for adult Education and Skill Development in urban and rural areas, State-wise;
(c) the total number men and women, and people from Scheduled Castes (SCs) Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) enrolled in these programmes, in the country, State-wise; and
(d) the steps are being taken by the Government to generate awareness about the benefits of education for adults?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b) The scheme Saakshar Bharat, has been in operation since 1.10.2009 in rural areas of 410 districts that had adult female literacy rate of 50 per cent or below as per Census, 2001 and left wing extremism affected districts, irrespective of their literacy rates. The State/UT-wise details of districts covered under Saakshar Bharat and the Scheme for support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development are at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.
(c) The State/UT-wise details of total number of men and women, and people from SCs, STs and other communities enrolled under Saakshar Bharat Programme up to October 2015 are at Annexure-III. Likewise, the details of State/UT-wise total number of beneficiaries enrolled and total number of men and women, and people from SCs, STs & OBCs who have completed vocational courses under the Scheme for support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development during the last three years (2012-13, 2013-14 & 2014-15) are at Annexure-IV.
(d) Extensive print & audio visual media campaign; nation-wide awareness programme including Kala Jathas, Road shows, public meetings, Padayatras; advertisements on railway tickets and bus panels etc. are regularly undertaken to generate awareness about the benefits of education for adults.
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