ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram

Why is in news? Ministry of Education observes Literacy Week from 1st to 8th September 2023 under ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram

The Government of India has decided to organise a literacy week from 1st September to 8th September 2023 to celebrate International Literacy Day for generating awareness among all the stakeholders/ beneficiaries/ citizens about the ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

The week-long literacy campaign shall enable mass participation to inculcate a sense of Kartavyabodh and Janbhagidari in each and every citizen of the nation.

This vision would popularise the scheme and help us attain the goal of making India fully literate.

About:

The Government of India has approved a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakramme for the period FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Education For All (erstwhile termed as Adult Education) to align with National Education Policy 2020 and Budget Announcements FY 2021-22 ‘To enable increased access of resources, online modules covering the entire gamut of adult education will be introduced’.

Objective:

It is to impart not only Foundational Literacy and Numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of 21st century such as

Critical Life Skills (including financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare);

Vocational Skills Development (with a view towards obtaining local employment);

Basic Education (including preparatory, middle, and secondary stage equivalency) and

Continuing Education (including engaging holistic adult education courses in arts, sciences, technology, culture, sports, and recreation, as well as other topics of interest or use to local learners, such as more advanced material on critical life skills).

Implementation:

The initiative operates through volunteerism. It encourages volunteers to participate in DUTY or Kartavya Bodh towards nation-building.

Student volunteers will be incentivised with credits in school/university and appreciation through certificates, letters of appreciation, and felicitation, among other means.

ULLAS targets citizens aged 15 and above who missed the opportunity to attend school, bridging the gaps in education.

The initiative has the potential to bring these students back to learning by providing them with an open-source learning platform.

According to government data, more than 12 lakh students are out of school in the year 2022-23 with the number of boys greater than girls.

The logo and slogan of “ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram” symbolize the campaign’s enthusiasm and the light of knowledge spreading across the nation.