Set age-wise target for complete literacy by 2016: Smriti Irani

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani today asked officers of the adult literacy mission to fix age-wise target to attain complete literacy in the next one year.

The Union minister's statement comes close on the heels of her announcing plans to achieve complete literacy in villages by March 2016 under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.

Addressing directors of Jan Siksha Sansthan, she also said, the best performing officer will get a cash prize of Rs one lakh.

"Pick up an age group and make a target. For example, take the age group of 40-60 and ensure complete literacy in the next one year," she said.

She also favoured drawing district specific plans under the 'mera district mera plan' initiative and identify the challenges and issues in the literacy drive.

56% of the illiterate population fall in the age group of above 75 years, she added.

Irani suggested to prepare a skill map of individual districts and identify the skill sets unique and relevant to the particular district for suitably engaging people for livelihood opportunities.

Encouraging the directors for the mission, she said the best performing director will get Rs one lakh, the second best performing officer will get Rs 75,000 and the third in the ranking will get a cash prize of Rs 50,000, she said.

Besides, they will be rewarded with a paid holiday trip with their spouse.

On International Literacy Day (September 8) she had announced that by March 2016 complete literacy would be attained in villages under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.

At a separate programme, Irani launched a national web portal on apprenticeship training, helping candidates to apply in any region of the country of their choice. The scheme being implemented through Boards of Apprenticeship/Practical Training.