Madhya Pradesh Literacy Drive: Aiming to Educate 2.5 Million Adults in 2025
Madhya Pradesh plans to provide formal education to over 2.5 million people above the age of 15 this year, transforming them from illiterate to literate. The initiative, called the ‘Ullas-Navbharat Literacy Program’, involves teachers, retired employees, self-help groups, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Jan Abhiyan Parishad, Aajeevika Mission, and students working as ‘Akshar Saathis’ (literacy partners).
Literacy Goals and Progress
According to the 2011 census, Madhya Pradesh had approximately 18.9 million illiterate individuals. The School Education Department reports that by March 2018, nearly 4.9 million people had been made literate through the Sakshar Bharat scheme. This year, the target is to educate 2.5 million more, with a plan to eliminate illiteracy in the state by 2027.
Districts like Alirajpur, Jhabua, and Barwani are the most backward, with literacy rates below 50%. On the other hand, districts such as Indore, Bhopal, and Jabalpur boast literacy rates above 80%. Bhopal alone has around 240,000 illiterate individuals. Madhya Pradesh currently ranks 28th in literacy at the national level.
Community Learning Centers and Training
Social Awareness Centers have been opened in government schools, where Akshar Saathis teach local illiterate residents to read and write. These literacy partners establish study centers anywhere—in neighborhoods, colonies, or villages—to help eradicate illiteracy.
A dedicated adult education app has been developed for the program. Officials at district, block, and cluster levels train one teacher per private school and appoint nodal officers responsible for training teachers and students from grades 8 to 12. Outstanding contributors, including Akshar Saathis and organizations, receive certificates and awards periodically.
Supporting Materials and Success Stories
The State Literacy Mission Authority has created the ‘Akshar Pothi’ book, which teaches reading by combining letters, accompanied by pictures to make learning easier. The book contains 20 lessons and is supported by a mobile app and videos.
In Ratibad area of Bhopal district, the village of Kolukhedi saw a remarkable transformation when the first two women in a household learned to read and write. Inspired by this, many women began attending study centers. Similar changes are seen in Bhimanagar Bastis and Adampur Cantonment, where literacy partners educate the illiterate using Akshar Pothi.