Ghatowar addresses Saakshar Bharat Yatra in Darrang, Assam

The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has addressed Saakshar Bharat Yatra at Dumunichowki in Darrang (Assam) today. The Saakshar Bharat Yatra, a flagship programme and a new variant of National Literacy Mission launched by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on 8th September, 2009.

Shri Ghatowar said that the mission is primarily focusing on women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, adolescents and other disadvantaged groups in rural areas. The programme is being implemented in 372 districts across the country. About 78,000 Adult Education Centres have been set up and about 1.46 lakh Preraks have been engaged. Nearly 66 lakh learners are participating in the basic literacy programme.

The Minister stated that the main objective of Saakshar Bharat Yatra is to carry out a nationwide campaign for mobilization of public opinion and enthusiasm towards the importance and need of Literacy and Life Long Education. It also aims at conducting widespread Jan Vachan programmes for refocusing the public mind on issues connected with literacy and lifelong education and to create a demand for a major rural reading and library movement as the back bone for the lifelong education programmes in the country.

The Yatra commenced from Delhi on 18th February, 2012 and would cover 22 States, 180 districts, 1000 blocks, over 16,000 Gram Panchayats throughout India which will culminate at Delhi on 26-27 March, 2012.