Voluntary Agencies 
9.6.3 The Central Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Agencies (VAs) which was put into operation during 1987-88 under the National Literacy Mission has been revised in the light of recommendations of a sub-group set up by the Executive Committee of National Literacy Mission Authority. Revised guidelines have been issued to State Governments/UT Administrations and State Resource Centres.
9.6.4 The programme would now be a volunteer-based Total Literacy Campaign in a specific area. No automatic extension would hence be given to the traditional centre-based programme. Instead, overriding preference would be given to those voluntary agencies which have a good track record of social service in general and of adult education in particular, and which are willing to take up area-specific, time- bound, volunteer based programmes. VAs would accordingly prepare proposals for achieving total literacy by adopting volunteer-based approach in a few villages/panchayats or block or a part of block depending on their capabilities. No payment to the instructors/volunteers is envisaged and the spirit is of total voluntarism. However, modest payment can be made to those workers who would be engaged whole time on the projects.
9.6.5 Identification and involvement of VAs in total literacy campaigns being run by Zilla Saksharata Samitis was discussed by Executive Committee of NLMA in its 32nd, 34th and 35th meetings held on 29-30th January, 1992, 7-8th May, 1992 and 26th May, 1992 and certain decisions were taken to ensure identification and selection of only good VAs. The Executive Committee has emphasised that screening of proposals should invariably be done by the District and State level screening committees involving representatives of NLMA, State Governments and a few VAs. As regards involvement of VAs in TLCs it was decided that every effort should be made to assign specific responsibility to VAs within the District. These decisions were communicated to all concerned in July 1992.
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9.6.6 Fifty TLC projects including 6 projects sanctioned during 1992-93 have so far been sanctioned to 46 VAs for making 12.57 lakh learners literate in the States of Andhra Pradesh (1), Assam (5), Bihar (3), Madhya Pradesh (3), Orissa (3), Punjab (1), Rajasthan (9), Tamil Nadu (11), Uttar Pradesh (11), W. Bengal (1) and Delhi (2).
9.6.7 Fifteen projects are for one year, 28 projects are for two years and 5 projects are for three years. During the current financial year 6 projects have been sanctioned. Recurring grant for continuation of JSNs have been sanctioned to 24 VAs. One VA has been sanctioned a project of bringing out abridged versions of 8 authors of repute, namely, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Munshi Prem Chand, Amrita Pritam etc. one VA is continuously bringing out for the last two years a publication "Sabala" on issues of women and girls for distribution among Jana Shikshan Nilayams in Hindi speaking States. A Nuclues Cell already sanctioned to one VA for involving School students of Delhi in the literacy work, remained in operation. The Department is also associated with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, in involvement of VAs by attending its workshops and also by circulation of four publications for neo-literates to States/VAs/Zilla Saksharata Samitis. Seven DRUs remained in operation during the current year f or providing techno-pedagogic support to the Programme.
9.7.1 Twenty-one State Resource Centres continued to function to provide academic and technical resource support to the Adult Education programme throughout the country. Fourteen of them are functioning in the voluntary sector, three in Universities and four in State Departments of Adult Education.
9.7.2 The SRCs have made a valuable contribution to the National Literacy Mission by designing basic teaching/ learning materials based on the technique of IPCL for both TLC and PLC. They conducted training for a large number of AE functionaries, formulated guidelines for evaluation and for taking up of innovative projects.
9.7.3 Most of the SRCs are actively associated with the total literacy campaigns right from the planning stage to their conclusion, and also with training as well as the development and supply of material for post literacy and continuing education. The SRCs likewise provide such support to the programmes organised by voluntary agencies, Nehru Yuva Kendras, educational institutions etc. in such areas as have not been covered by the Total Literacy Campaigns.
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External Evaluation of Adult Education Programme
9.8.0 External evaluation is a crucial component of programme imp- lementation. After the launching of National Literacy Mission in May 1988, a total of 31 studies were assigned to 26 Institutes of Social Science Research and University Departments. Based on the findings and recommendations of 23 reports received, follow- up action has been taken to improve implementation.
9.9.0 Rural Functional Literacy Project (RFLP) is one of the oldest schemes initiated right with the launching of the National Adult Education Programme of 2nd October, 1978. It has been a centre based programme on the basis of findings and recommendations of evaluation studies also internal assessment, the scheme was re- organised and several structural changes made. Following the success of the Total Literacy Campaign, the centre based programme of RFLP has been closed down in almost all States/UTs. It is proposed to continue these projects only in the State of Jammu & Kashmir and other difficult terrains, hilly areas and isolated pockets.
9.10.1 Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan undertook area specific and time bound programme in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Uttar Pradesh project had target of 3.78 lakhs adult learners in 2 3 cycles. 4700 centres were sanctioned to cover 1065 villages spanning 216 Panchayat Samitis. Teaching-learning process was launched on 8th September, 1991 and in one cycle 1.09 lakhs learners were enrolled. According to the latest report 0.62 lakh learners reached the 3rd and the final level of literacy.
9.10.2 Rajasthan project started in November, 1991, with a target of 2.84 lakh learners, spread over 1056 villages in 294 Panchayat Samitis. This was also an area-specific and time-bound programme of 3-4 cycles of six months each. As per the latest report, 0.9 lakh learners were enrolled during the 1st cycle and out of them, 0.25 lakh reached the 3rd and the final level of basic literacy.
9.11.1 Thirty-seven SVPs continued to function in 1992-93 in different industrial and urban centres of the country. They represent an institutional framework for offering non-formal, adult and cotinuing education and polyvalent training programmes to industrial workers, to their family members, self-employed members and prospective workers etc. Of them, 1 SPV at Delhi is run by the Central Government, 3 SVPs by universities, 25 by autonomous bodies and remaining 8 by State Governments.
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9. 11.2 Each SVP has a nucleus of professional staff under the control of a Director assisted by two or three full-time Programme Officers.Additionally, each SVP also engages local resource persons on part-time basis to impart various skills or organise courses relevant to specific areas. Prior to conducting a programme or starting a course, a socioeconomic profile and work plan for operationalisation of activities are designed by the SVPs. Such profiles help in having a proper understanding of the manpower needs of the clientele and the resources which can be mobilised. The programmes of the SVPs have helped diverse sections of society living in urban semi-urban and industrial areas such as illiterate semi literate, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled, covering inter-alia, the weaker sections such as Scheduled Castes/Tribes, physically and orthopadeically handicapped and women in distress.
9.11.3 Eight Shramik Vidyapeeths have been selected for implementing UNICEF assisted literacy linked vocational programmes for women and girls. Adult Literacy Programmes have now been taken up by all SVPs on a larger scale. Accreditation to National Open School has been secured for 24 SVPs, the certificates of which have thus become acceptable for the job market.
9.11.4 The slum Basti Education and Training Project, (SET) started by the SVP Delhi in collaboration with DDA (Slum Wing) is continued. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences is to conduct a "quick appraisal" of the SVPs with the assistance of UNICEF.
9.12.1 State Governments/UT Adminisrations are given 100% central grant (on staff liability) for creating necessary administrative structures for the implementation of the Adult Education Programme. The Central grant covers the entire expenditure on the emoluments of the sanctioned staff, while expenditure on items like POL, reimbursement of medical/ travel expenses are to be met by the State Governments. Under this scheme the State & UTs have been divided into 4 categories namely, A,B,C & D, and the size of the State level administrative structure fixed accordingly. The District level structure is decided depending on the size and complexity of Adult Education activities undertaken in the District. Districts have been categorised as 'A' & 'B' depending upon the size of the programme being implemented in the district.
9.12.2 It has been decided that the scheme will continue as a centrally sponsored scheme. However, in the context of the total literacy campaigns, it has been decided to evolve criteria for reducing staff in the State Directortes and no central assistance would be given for the staff available at the District level after two years of the district achieving total
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literacy.
Directorate of Adult Education 9.13.1 The Directorate of Adult Education (DAE) a subordinate office of the Department of Education continued to function as the National Resource Centre in the areas of adult education and total literacy campaigns. The Directorate has 6 units with identified professional and administrative functions. The main activities included in the Action Plan of the Directorate during the year were as under:
(i)Preparation of Materials and Surveillance 9.13.2 The Directorate organised 8 meetings of IPCL (Improved Pace and Content of Learing) Review Committee to scrutinise the materials developed by the State Resource Centres and TLC Districts. Training was organised for the functionaries of State Resource Centres and TLC Districts to develop post-literacy Book-1 for neo-literates. Training on printing techniques (quality printing, cost effectiveness etc.) was also organised. Three regional workshops were conducted for integration of population education message in total literacy campaigns and other adult education programmes. Resource support was provided to various select writers/illustrators on the methodology of developing materials for adult learners, particularly in Delhi, Chandigarh, Bihar and Orissa. The activities of SRCs were compiled and annual report prepared.
(ii) Training 9.13.3 The emphasis being on Total Literacy Campaign, one programme was organised at Tirupati (November, 1992) in Planning and Management of TLC for personnel of Adult Education covering Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in collaboration with Sri Venkateshwara University. The objectives were to provide suitable knowledge base and skills on environment, training strategy, procuring of materials, evaluation and monitoring etc. Discussions were also held at different places to assess participatory research as well as the strengths and weaknesses in training programmes organised in TLC districts, discussing with selected functionaries the content areas and designs etc. The other programmes by PRIA during June, 1992 at Pune, by NIEPA during July, 1992 at New Delhi, and by BGVS during July, 1992 at Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) were coordinated by the Directorate.
(ii) Management Information System 9.13.4 Software package was developed in collaboration with NIC on monitoring of TLC Districts. As the response from the field was not very satisfactory a simple proforma was designed, after holding discussion at different levels, to collect information every month from various TLC Districts. The Directorate is actively in touch with the TLC districts to
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ensure timely rendering of the reports. Special visits were also undertaken by the officers of the DAE to study the performance in the TLC districts.
9.13.5 To develop district level Management Information System (DMIS) a private agency, MASTEK, was entrusted with this responsibility. Two workshops were organised to develop DMIS at Nagapattinam and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. This has now been finalised and will be tried out in Coimbatore District, whereafter it could be uniformly tried out from January 1993 in the new TLC Districts.
(iv) Media and Communication Support 9.13.6 Prodution of software is one of the major tasks taken up by the DAE in collaboration with select agencies. Seventeen video films were produced, mostly as video documentation of TLC in the districts. U-Matic master cassettes of some of the films on TLC like "You Can in Nizamabad" and "Zaria Bani Taleem", were supplied to Doordarshan for telecast. Closed Circuit TV System in selected Railway Stations like Allahabad, Lucknow, Bangalore, Hubli, Jabalpur, Guwahati, etc. are being utilised for media campaigns. Prime time Spots, both for TV and AIR, were produced. Outdoor publicity was organised during ILD celebrations (September, 1992) through DAVP hoardings bearing National Literacy Mission messages, wall-paintings etc. NLM advertisement was issued on computerised railway tickets and also on the time-table of Northern Railway, besides the postal stationery of Department of Posts.
(v) National Level Competitions 9.13.7 Under National level Prize Competitions, open contests are being encouraged to develop posters, books, etc. A National Photo Competition is also being planned. On the International Literacy Day, certificates were awarded to the winners of National Essay Competition and National Poster Competitions.
(vi) Publication 9.13.8 The Directorate undertakes production and dissemination of different types of materials including the bilingual monthly journal "Literacy Mission". Composing of DTP, preparation of art work, maps, charts, etc. binding and lamination are some of the services rendered by the Directorate.
9.13.9 Ten special books were released on the International Literacy Day. Five posters that received awards were printed in 40,000 copies each for wide distribution among the States and UTs. Two literacy maps indicating Statewise literacy position were produced and distributed.
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Population Education 9.14.1 The UNFPA funded Population Education Project in Adult Education came into operation during 1987 as an integral part of adult education programme with technical support provided by the DAE in collaboration with 15 SRCs. The coordination is being done by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The objectives were to clarify the concepts and scope of population education, preparation of curriculum, development of teaching-learning materials, training of the functionaries, to institutionalise the component of population education in the ongoing programmes of adult education. Fifteen States/UTs were covered so far.
9.14.2 Tripartite Meeting and Project Progress Review Meetings were held during April 1992 at Shimla by inviting the SRC representatives specialising in population education. Efforts were made to form State Population Education Projects and to create Population Education Cells in SRCs as necessary. The population education messages carried in the teaching-learning materials were small family norm, responsible parenthood, right age of marriage, population growth and environment, population education and development, beliefs and traditions etc. Software such as slides, teaching charts, flash cards, audio/visual cassettes are designed and developed for the purpose. In July 1992 an orientation programme was conducted to strengthen the Population Education efforts by inviting senior functionaries of SRCs and the Directorates of Adult Education in various states. Experimental Projects and Exploratory Studies are on in the TLC districts of Bhavnagar (Gujarat) and Ganjam (Orissa). Formulation of Project Document Phase-II is in progress. Workshop on Research Methodology was held in November, 1992 at Trivandrum in collaboration with Indian Adult Education Association (IAEA) and University of Kerala.
National Institute of Adult Education 9.15.1 The National Institute of Adult Education (NIAE) was set up in January, 1991 as an autonomous body to act as the national level Resource Centre for adult education and to provide academic,technical and resource support for adult education programme in the country. Initially the Institute had taken up certain short duration projects. In May, 1992 an Approach Paper and an Annual Plan for 1992-93 were approved. The programme areas identified in the Annual Plan were:
1. Gender Equity in Literacy
2. communication in Adult Education
3. Evaluation issues in Adult Education
4. Social Sciences in Adult Education
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5. Population issues in Adult Education
6. Post Literacy and Continuing Education.
Action was initiated on these programme areas in 1991-92. During 1992-93 the following activities have already been undertaken.
Gender Equity in Literacy 9.16.1 As an outcome of the seminar in January 1992 on 'Gender Equity in Literacy', the following research projects have been initiated: