Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Shashi Tharoor, has hailed the government of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for its efficient implementation of the Saakshar Bharat Programme (Karkum Bharatham).
Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to achieve the target fixed for the programme by producing 17.26 lakh neo-literates. Tharoor has written to Jayalalithaa, appreciating the efforts taken by her government to implementing this programme, an official release said.
Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Salem, Dharmapuri and Erode Districts were selected for the implementation of this programme since women’s literacy in these districts was below 50 per cent as per the 2001 census and 17.46 lakh persons were identified as illiterates.
Under the scheme, classes were conducted in 3,152 centres by 6,304 officials between 3 pm and 7 pm.
After the present government assumed office 1, the CM ordered establishment of 40 Model Adult Education Centres that combined conventional teaching methods and new techniques. These centres taught adult learners using computer, LCD and educational software.