Agartala, June 23 (UNI) Tripura has become the third Indian state to be ‘fully literate’ after Goa and Mizoram. The literacy rate of the state had been more than 90 per cent for over a decade, but was lagging in a few parameters, which have now been achieved.
In a ceremony on Monday, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, holding the education portfolio in the presence of the central government officials here, announced the achievement of a new benchmark in the country’s pursuit of universal education.
Dr Saha said, according to the report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023–24, Tripura’s literacy rate stood at 93.7 per cent. However, with the recent successes of the ‘ULLAS’ campaign, this figure has now risen to 95.6 per cent. As per the criteria set by the government of India, states or Union Territories achieving over 95 per cent literacy are granted the status of "fully literate".
Representatives from all eight districts, including 2,000 neo-literates, volunteers, instructors and block-level officials took part in the event of success in Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan.
The state implemented ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to identify and educate the non-literate individuals, which focused on five components: foundational literacy and numeracy, critical life skills, basic education, vocational skills, and continuing education.
Tripura has achieved all the components and has been recognised for its distinguished status.
"Alignment with National Education Policy 2020, ULLAS was launched in 2022, and it aims to bring every adult citizen in the country under the umbrella of literacy by 2027. Tripura has remained at the forefront of this mission with organised and dedicated efforts," Dr Saha underlined.
The Director of Secondary Education N C Sharma, said several committees were formed earlier at the state, district, and block levels to implement the mission. Educational materials were prepared in Bengali, English, and Kokborok languages. The specially trained teachers and students were engaged as volunteers.
Through the relentless efforts of 2,228 volunteer teachers, 943 Social Awareness Centers, and the active involvement of the Youth Literacy Corps, the light of education has reached even the remotest corners of Tripura. "Our experience is amazing. Some opened classrooms in their courtyards, while others taught the basics in local markets. The journey to this milestone was not an easy one," Sharma stated.
In 1961, the literacy rate of the state was merely 20.24 per cent. Overcoming several challenges, the state’s literacy steadily rose, reaching 87.22 per cent in the 2011 census and ranked as the third highest literate state in the country after Kerala and Mizoram.
However, earlier literacy programmes mostly focused only on basic signature skills. But now it has moved beyond, emphasising functional literacy. The goal was not only to impart basic literacy but also to ensure education in financial awareness, digital transactions, basic arithmetic, and various other practical skills through well-planned initiatives, Sharma added.
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