The National Literacy Mission has been engaged over the last two decades in providing opportunities for learning to the non – literates particularly in the 15-35 age group. In the process it has created a large community of neo-literates of nearly 120 million. The continuing education of these neo-literates, by providing interesting and varied reading material to them has posed a daunting challenge before us. The educational level attain by these neo-literates is equivalent to Class 4-5 levels but their literacy skills are generally fragile and there is grave danger of their relapsing into illiteracy unless they keep practicing their literacy skills. Rural households unfortunately do not have enough reading material for neo-literates. It is NLM’s endeavour to fill this gap.
In order to address their learning needs, the NLM has set up Continuing Education Centres, often in the remote, unreached areas which essentially serve as reading room- cum- library for the neo-literates. These centres also cater to the school drop outs and others who may not have had much benefit of formal schooling. Therefore the challenge before the NLM is in providing them with books which will enthuse them, provoke them and make them yearn for more. The literacy skills acquired by a learner is that of a student of class 4-5, but books for school children will not do for adult learners. What kind of books would they want to read? What kind of books are available to them? What kind of books should we provide them? The neo-literates unfortunately are not spoilt for choice. There is a dearth of entertaining books for neoliterates in our libraries. Translations are available but not in a language simple enough for a neo literate to understand. There is no uniformity in terms of the availability of neo-literate literature in different languages. Our libraries are often stocked with materials which are of functional utility, which would not ignite an interest in reading in the neo-literate and leave him craving for more.
In order to brainstorm on these issues, the National Literacy Mission has convened a National level Writers workshop which will be inaugurated by the Minister for HRD on Wednesday.
About 70 eminent writers of the country which include Prof. Manoj Das, Shri Allam Rajaiah, Dr. Indira Goswami, Shri Kamleshwar, Shri Rajendra Yadav, Shri Ashok Chakradhar, Smt. Krishna Sobti, Prof. K.Sachidanandan, Dr. S.S.Noor, Shri Shamshur Rehman Faroqui, Prof. Qamar Rais, Smt. Ajeet Cour, Ms. Gita Hariharan are likely to attend the delebrations of the workshop. The aim of the workshop is to involve eminent creative writers with National Literacy Mission and thereby develop a wide range of neo-literate material for about 120 million neo-literates of the country in various languages.
In the evening a cultural programme is being organised at Chinmaya Mission, 89 Lodhi Estate, New Delhi from 6.30 P.M. to 8.00 P.M. in which an eminent Kathak dancer Smt. Shovana Narayan would be performing besides many other cultural items. HRD Minister has also consented to be the Chief Guest at the cultural programme.
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(Release ID :23496)