Explainer: Himachal’s journey from literacy rate of 7.8 per cent to 99.3

SIXTYFIVE-YEAR-OLD Bega Ram was bubbling with enthusiasm as he stood with his nervous teacher and anxious Education Department officials, waiting for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to interact with him and other neo-literates on International Literacy Day (September 8). He looked all excited to flaunt his newly-acquired ability to read and write. He passed the test with flying colours, answering all questions the CM posed.

The interaction triggered smiles all around. However, the real significance of the feat sunk in when Bega Ram and others listed out the otherwise routine tasks they could perform after becoming literate. “Now, I can make a phone call without seeking help and read the boards of buses,” he beamed.

Besides changing their own lives in a significant way, the neo-literates paved the way for the state to declare itself fully literate under the Centre-sponsored New India Literacy Programme (NILP), also called ULLAS. Apart from Himachal, Mizoram, Goa, Tripura and the Union Territory of Ladakh have also declared themselves fully literate under the programme.

What are the parameters

Any state or UT having a literacy rate above 95 per cent is considered fully literate under NILP. “We have achieved a literacy rate of 99.3 per cent, which is the highest in the country,” said Education Minister Rohit Thakur. The objective of the programme is to make all non-literate individuals aged 15 years and above literate.

In Himachal, 95,307 individuals were identified as non-literate under NILP, and 42,578 have already been turned into neo-literates. Apart from acquiring foundational literacy and numeracy, the neo-literates have also been equipped with basic financial and digital literacy through the programme.

“I can now fill the basic forms at the post office and bank without seeking help. And I don’t use my thumb imprint anymore,” said Mansa Ram, another elderly person who has benefited from the programme.

Why it’s a big deal

Turning all its residents literate is a big achievement for any state, especially Himachal Pradesh. “Considering Himachal had one of the lowest literacy rates in the country after Independence, achieving full literacy is a remarkable feat,” said Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar. Incidentally, Kanwar was one of the volunteers of the Total Literacy Campaign in the state in the 1990s.

In the 1951 Census, the literacy rate was just 7.98 per cent against the national literacy rate of 18.33. The figure for women was even more dismal at 2.55 per cent. “Today, we hardly have any gender or caste gap when it comes to education,” said Kanwar.

The geographical condition of the state makes the feat even more credible. Schools were opened in every nook and corner to ensure no child was left without education. “We still have the highest number of small schools with low enrolment in the country,” said Kanwar. Besides, the sense of self-worth any non-literate person feels on becoming literate and the contribution they can make to society and economy further underscore the significance of the achievement.]

Achieving the transformation

The journey from having one of the lowest literacy rates post-Independence to achieving the highest literacy rate has been full of challenges. While formal education was strengthened by creating a dense network of primary and middle schools across the state, the non-literate adults were made literate through various programmes, campaigns and community participation.

The 1990s, in particular, turned out to be the most productive period for adult literacy. “The Central government started the National Literacy Mission in 1988. It took off in the state in the early ’90s, and soon turned into a mass movement. The government, district administrations and volunteers all came together like never before to make the mission successful,” said Kuldeep Tanwar, the then adviser to the National Literacy Mission.

The campaign, apart from addressing the issue of adult education, had a massive indirect effect as well. “It ingrained education as a core value among the people. As a result, every parent now wants to provide the best possible education,” said Kanwar.

The road ahead

Having achieved full literacy, the state has set its sights on providing quality formal education. Having schools in every nook and corner fulfilled the goal of providing basic education, but quality remained elusive, what with thousands of schools having just one teacher and hundreds of schools running without any teacher.

In the last two and a half years, the government has taken several measures to raise the quality of education. These initiatives have shown instant results as well — the state has jumped to fifth position from the lowly 21st spot in the National Achievement Survey and fared quite well in the latest ASER report as well.

Nevertheless, the exodus to private educational institutions continues. Over the years, people have apparently lost confidence in government institutions. Time will tell if the newly-introduced reforms are able to win back that trust.