ADULT EDUCATION
In accordance with the directions contained in the National policy on Education, 1986 and the strategies specified in the programme of Action, a comprehensive programme known as "National Literacy Mission (NLM)" has been formulated in the field of Adult Education. The objective persons in 15-33 age-group - 30 million by 1990 and additional 50 million by 1995. The following actions have been taken so far at the national level to operationalise the NLM:-
8.1 Preparation of guidelines (i) Detailed guidelines have been formulated and sent to Education Secretaries of all State Govt./Union Territory Administrations for preparation of State and district level action plans "(including those for 40 Technology Demonstration (TD) districts, which have also been identified). Action plans have been received in respect of 34 TD districts.
8.2 Generation and Sustenance of Motivation Special steps have been taken to design motivation centred programmes of direct interest to learners.
8.3 Mobilisation of people Campaigns for mess mobilisation for NLM have launched at national and state levels.
8.4 Media and communication (i) Wide publicity is being given to various aspects of NLM through radio/TV spots, stories, plays, features, etc.
(ii) Production of documentaries, animation and video films, radio/TV sports, etc. have been undertaken and about 60 educational firms have been made so far.
(iii) Good and creative thinkers, artists, writers, playwrights, who can write stories, features, plays on NLM and contribute on a regular basis to the newspapers, AIR and Doordarshan to create the necessary environment for NLM, have been identified and some of them have already involved themselves in the process.
(iv) The rich folk culture and tradition obtaining in different parts of the country is being harnessed and utilised for spreading the message of literacy and creating the environment.
(v) Literacy jathas are being organised at village, block, subdivision, and district levels.
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(vi) About 4,000 youth animators have been trained, who will be deployed as instructors, preraks and activists of education.
8.5 Involvement of Voluntary Agencies (i) During 1987-88, 301 voluntary agencies were provided financial assistance of Rs. 6.14 crores for running 335 projects involving 23020 centres. During 1988-89, 272 projects of 198 voluntary agencies involving 12615 centres have been approved so far.
(ii) Special steps have been taken to mobilise and promote about 500 voluntary agencies for involvement in the programme.
(iii) The scheme of grant-in-aid to voluntary agencies has been revised, considerably simplified; and liberalised, and wide publicity has been given to salient features of the revised scheme.
(iv) Performance of 382 voluntary agencies had been evaluated during 1987-88. In the light of assessment of performance, steps have been taken to encourage those voluntary agencies whose performance was found fully satisfactory to undertake larger projects; necessary action has been intiated against those voluntary agencies whose performance was also doubtful.
8.6 Improvement of on-going scheme - (i) The financial pattern for funding rural functional literacy projects has been liberalised and a number of improvements have been made in the manner of execution of the projects. 513 projects are being continued to be funded by the Central Government.
(ii) Administrative structure at the State and district levels has been strengthened and financial assistance for the purpose from Central Government has been increased.
(iii) Financial and administrative pattern for the State Resource Centres has also been considerably improved and strengthened.
(iv) Scheme of evaluation of the Adult Education programme by external evaluation agencies has also been improved and streamlined. 16 agencies of repute have been indentified and 7 agencies have been released grants for the purpose. The proposal of another 3 agencies is under process.
8.7 Production of Teaching-learning Materials in Spoken LanguagesTeaching-learning material have been prepared in the following spoken languages:-
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Halbi Madhya Pradesh
Bhili Madhya Pradesh
Nagpuria Bihar
Braj Uttar Pradesh
Dhundhani Rajasthan
Merwari Rajasthan
Haroti Rajasthan
Dogri Himachal Pradesh
Chamiali Himachal Pradesh
Kinnori Himachal Pradesh
8.8 Revamping of the Training System - A special mannual on participatory training process captioned "Learning for participation" has been developed. All States/Union Territories have been requested to identify the backlog in training of different levels of functionaries and strengthen the training programmes through participatory process. Training programmes for senior and middle level adult education functionaries has been undertaken by Central Directorate of Adult Education.
8.9 Mass Programme for Functional Literacy - (i) A number of steps have been taken to involve NSS and non- NSS students and NCC cadets in the adult education programme. 10.25 lakhs literacy kits were supplied for distribution to learners for the summer of 1988.
(ii) 92 universities and 2136 colleges have been sanctioned 25709 Adult Education Centers.
(iii) A Seksharata Abhiyan was launched by Gujarat Vidyapeeth in May-June 1988 involving 1,00,000 student volunteers and covering 5,00,000 learners.
(iv) 5,000 school students took pledge to eradicate illiteracy at Rajghat on 8 Sept., 1988.
(v) A number of strategies have been discussed and finalised in consultation with concerned ministries/Departments to involve employers and trade unions, railway, ex-servicemen to prison management and staff in the National Literacy Mission.
8.10 Post-Literacy and Continuing Education - (i) The existing scheme of post literacy and continuing education has replaced by a new and improved scheme of Jan Shikshan Nilayams, which has widely circulated. 10,065 JSNs have been sanctioned and they are in the process of being set up.
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(ii) Steps have been taken to lay down strategies for production of post- literacy and continuing education material for neo-literates.
(iii Facilities of public libraries and reading rooms, wherever available are also being provided to neo-literates.
8.11 Availability of Standard Learning Material - (i) Steps have been taken to prepare standard teaching- learning materials in turn with the objectives of NLM.
8.12 Universalisation of Outreach - Steps have been initiated to reach all adult illiterates, specially women, SCs & STs.
8.13 Technology Demonstration - (i) A number of collaborating agencies have been identified and they are working and designing a number of techno- padagogic inputs. The demonstration of the new and innovative technology will be undertaken in the 40 TD districts.
(ii) Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has undertaken work of installation of solar power packs in districts of Bikaner (Rajasthan), Osmanabad (Maharashtra), Aligarh (U.P.) Gumla (Bihar) and Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh). The work has been completed in 93 un-electrified village of the first three districts.
(iii) IPCL has produced 1,000 improved plastic black-boards for experimentation, which are being field-tested in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
(iv) Central Electronic Limited have field- tested the vediorama or projection TV in Rajasthan and Karnataka to ascertain its suitability.
8.14 NLM Management Structure - (i) National Literacy Mission Authority has been set up by a resolution of the Central Government. 2 meetings of the Council and 4 meetings of the Executive Committee of NLMA have been held so far. One post of DG, 2 posts of additional DG and 2 posts of Director have also been sanctioned.
(ii) States of Orissa, West-Bengal, Goa, J&K, Andhra Pradesh and UP have set up States Literacy Mission Authority. Action in this behalf is being taken by other State Governments.
(iii) Modalities of conversion of Central Directorate of Adult Education into National Institute of Adult Education are being worked out.
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(iv) States Governments have been requested to nominate/appoint district mission leaders. Tamil Nadu has appointed District Collector as District Mission Leader. In West Bengal District Magistrates of TD districts have been appointed for the purpose.
8.15 Budgetary Position - A budget provision of 75.50 crores has been made during 1988-89 for implementation of various scheme of NLM. A sum of Rs. 31.40 crores has been spent so far.
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