Expressing concern over the high rate of illiteracy in the country, vice-president Hamid Ansari today said literacy programme must reach SC/ST and minorities.
"One thing which is the cause of concern is that there is maximum number of non-literates in our country (as compared to other Asian nations)," Ansari said at a National Literacy Mission function organised on the occasion of World Literacy Day.
He said the government has initiated various literacy programmes but a lot is yet to be done.
"Though we can say that since independence, when the literacy rate was 12%, we have made great progress. The government has done a lot like Right to
Education Act, but a lot is still to be done," Ansari said.
He said the literacy rate in India was 74% and when compared to other Asian countries like China, Myanmar and even Sri Lanka, India is far behind.
Ansari said literacy programme Sakshar Bharat should reach SC/ST and minorities because they comprise 44% of the population.
Presenting a report on literacy at the function, union human resource minister Kapil Sibal said there is a huge gap between male and female literacy ratio and efforts should be made to bridge the gap.
"Among the literate population, 82% are men and 65% women. We have to bridge this gap. Besides, there is a gap of 16% in literacy rate in urban and rural areas, which also needs to be reduced," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Among the literate population, 82% are men and 65% women. We have to bridge this gap. Besides, there is a gap of 16% in literacy rate in urban and rural areas, which also needs to be reduced," he said.
{{/usCountry}}He said Sakshar Bharat programme is currently on in 372 districts and the government aims at increasing the literacy rate from 74% to 80%, besides providing vocational training to people.
Speaking on the occasion Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said though literacy rate has increased by 14% in the state in the last 10 years but it was not up to the mark.