Question : LITERACY PROGRAMMES

(a) the current literacy rate in the country and the names of the States where literacy rate has increased significantly during the last three years,State-wise;

(b) the details of the allocation sanctioned and made for various literacy programmes during the current year,State-wise;

(c) the details of the proposals received by the Government for improving the standard of education and opening educational centres in the villages during each of the last three years, State-wise;

(d) the details of the proposals pending for clearance with the Government indicating the time since when these are pending,State-wise;and

(e) the time by which these proposals are likely to be cleared,State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SHRI M.A.A. FATMI)

(a) The literacy data in the country is collected through decennial census operation conducted by Registrar General of India.According to last census held in 2001,the literacy rate was 64.84% and the subsequent increase in literacy rate of States will be known only after 2011 census.

(b) Funds for Adult Education are allocated scheme-wise and not State-wise.In Budget Estimates 2008-09(Plan),an amount of Rs.369.00 crores has been allocated for Adult Education & Skill Development and Literacy Programmes and Rs.70.00 crores for Support to Non-governmental Organisations,Institutions/State Resource Centres for Adult Education & Skill Development.

(c) Under National Literacy Mission grants are being released for Total Literacy Campaign (TLC),Post Literacy Programme(PLP) and Continuing Education Programme(CEP).Presently there are 95 districts in the TLC stage,174 in PL stage and 328 in CE stage.Projects for Residual Illiteracy (PRI) is also implemented in 141 districts.The State-wise details are annexed.

(d) & (e): Grants are released to the States for Literacy Projects only after completion of the phase of the programme and settlement of the accounts of projects sanctioned earlier.