National mission to give impetus to female literacy

Children from less affluent homes sing as they take part in an outdoor class conducted as part of a mobile study program of the Chalta Firta School in a New Delhi slum area. The photo was taken on International Literacy Day 2009.

With female education not picking up to the desired level, the Centre today said it intends to focus on women literacy through a national mission.

“Female literacy rate is not up to the mark,” Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik said in the national capital.

Referring to the National Literacy Mission (NLM) launched by the government, he said at a meeting that though the overall literacy rate has improved in the country, female education was still lagging behind.

“The government will, therefore, now run the NLM as National Women Literacy Mission,” he said addressing a gathering of meritorious students belonging to the Scheduled Caste category.

Around 270 students from 17 states were conferred the Dr Ambedkar National Merit Awards for performing well in the class XII examination conducted by state education boards and councils in 2008.

Students securing the highest, second highest and third highest marks were given Rs 60,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively and a certificate. The awards are given by the Ambedkar Foundation, a body that is affiliated to the Ministry.