Tripura to be declared fully literate state, says Chief Minister Sarkar

Tripura's Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who heads the State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA), recently announced that the state is likely to be declared fully literate by September this year.

"We have actually achieved a lot but we are not yet satisfied. Our target is to achieve the real 100 per cent. Keeping that in mind, we are trying our level best. And on that count, we have already chalked out a plan of action," Sarkar added.

According to the 2011 census, Tripura with a literacy rate of 87.75%, ranked third, behind only Kerala and Mizoram.

Shamburam Debbarma, Principal of a higher secondary school, said: "The central and state governments are helping the school by properly implementing various schemes like the mid-day meal, free books and clothes. Now, many students have enrolled, and the number of dropouts has reduced."

The proper implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal, and other such beneficial schemes, has led to a steep decline in the dropout rate.

Many new schools, including 1030 'anganwadi' schools for primary education, have also come up throughout the state.