Programme Framework

Programme Framework 26. The programme entails identification of non-literates through a survey, area wise mapping of their learning needs and imparting them instructor based teaching of about 300 hours spread over 3 months or beyond, depending on motivation of the learner and local conditions. Successful completion of the 300 hours of instructional learning would enable the learner to read and comprehend unknown text (news paper headings, road signs etc); apply skills of writing in day to day activities like writing applications and letters and filling up of application forms, etc., and compute simple problems involving multiplication and division. A certificate will be issued to every successful learner based on a professional evaluation of learning outcome. This will open up opportunities for further education through Open Learning Systems. Classes will be convened at such time 11 and venue as would be suitable to the learners. SLMAs will be under obligation to arrange for the use of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA)school buildings, during out of schooling hours and holidays, to be used for conducting literacy classes and related activities. 

Functional Literacy Programme

Functional Literacy Programme o Programme Objectives 25. Literacy Programme (LP) will aim to achieve the first objective of the scheme, that is, „Impart functional literacy to non-literate adults‟. Functional literacy, in context of the programme, implies achieving self reliance in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic (Numeracy) and becoming aware of the causes of one‟s deprivation and moving towards amelioration of their condition through organization and participation in the process of development; Acquiring skills to improve the economic status and general well being; Creating an aware and responsible citizenry (Imbibing values of national integration, communal harmony, conservation of the environment, women‟s equality, and reproductive behaviour etc.). 

Teaching–Learning Programmes

 Teaching–Learning Programmes 24. To respond to the demand for literacy and address the diverse needs of the non and neo-literate adults, an assortment of teaching learning programmes, including Functional Literacy Programme, Basic Education Programme, Vocational 10 Education and Continuing Education Programme will be offered as an integrated continuum. 

Creating Sustainable Demand for Literacy

Creating Sustainable Demand for Literacy 22. While in some pockets there is an explicit demand for literacy in several parts it is tacit and therefore there is a need to make it explicit. Success of the Mission will depend on creating a social environment conducive to literacy by addressing the whole society, both educated and the non-literate, especially the women. A key aspect of the demand creation will be making visible to the learners the value, importance and relevance that literacy will have in their day to day lives, including women in SHGs, PRIs, CBOs and NGOs etc. To this end, NLMA will launch a major social motivation and mobilization campaign that would propagate the benefits of literacy and handicaps of being non-literate. The message would be conveyed so forcefully that the issue of literacy will become part of the social 9 discourse and will motivate the non-literates, especially women to take part in learning, and the educated to voluntarily contribute to the programme. 23. The central objective of environment building for literacy will be to generate a positive, natural and spontaneous demand for literacy which does not exist uniformly in all parts of the country. Along with this, the environment building activities will be directed towards removing mindsets or ill perceived notions about literacy on the one hand and to enlist the involvement and support of all sections of the civil society in literacy promotion efforts on the other. Multiple strategies will be adopted in context to local conditions. All forms of media including print, electronic and folk media, will be simultaneously harnessed to create positive perceptions about literacy and to simultaneously motivated and spur to action both potential literacy volunteers and learners. Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials, designed with the help of State Resource Centres and other agencies, will be used extensively to create a conducive environment for literacy learning. As part of the EB campaign, events and meetings will be organized at village, panchayat and block levels with all stakeholders such as community and political leaders, PRI functionaries, mahila mandals, the educational institutions and the intelligentsia, to seek their support and involvement in the programme. A Steering Committee and supporting committee, as decided by NLMA, may oversee and coordinate the campaign nationally. Funds from the management head besides sponsorships may be used for this purpose I

Strategy for Urban Areas

. Strategy for Urban Areas 21. In the urban areas, Mission objectives may be achieved innovatively, using new actors. The programme may be handled through Jan Shikshan Sansthans, State Resource Centres, NGOs, social groups and any other institution identified by NLMA through Public Private Partnership (PPP) or any other mode. Linkages with Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) could also be developed for synergy and augmentation of resources. 

Rural and other Special Areas

Rural and other Special Areas 20. According to 2001 Census, 84% of India‟s non-literates live in rural India. Since illiteracy is far more widespread in rural areas as compared to urban India, and for 8 the reason that urban areas are better endowed with educational infrastructure leading to better access to opportunities, the Mission would concentrate on and deploy public resources in rural areas. An all out effort may be made to saturate rural areas first before expanding to non-rural areas. In these areas, the focus will be on women and adolescents belonging to SC, ST, Minorities and other disadvantaged groups. 

Geographical Area Coverage

Geographical Area Coverage 19. Another goal of the Mission is to minimize inter and intra regional/state disparities. Inter state disparities range between 33% and 88%. Intra state disparities are equally stunning. To minimize regional disparities, the programme, in its first phase, that is during the 11th Plan period (31-03-2012) will remain confined to districts with adult female literacy rate of 50% or less as per 2001 Census. Nearly 18 crore non-literate adults live in these districts. Besides, 33 districts affected with left wing extremism will also be covered under the Mission irrespective of the existing literacy rate.