Lok Sabha Question No. 148 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Literacy Rate in Jharkhand
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 148

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## Literacy Rate in Jharkhand

## *148 Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for low literacy rate in Jharkhand;
- (b) whether the Saakshar Bharat Programme has been implemented in Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocation to Jharkhand to improve the literacy rate during the last three years;
- (c) the achievements made under the Saakshar Bharat Programme in Jharkhand;
- (d) whether  any  special  provisions  have  been  made  to  impart  education  in  the  left  wing extremism affected districts in Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether any special provisions have been made to impart education to the women and other disadvantaged groups in Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH  POKHARIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of House.

***

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART ( a )  to ( e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 148 FOR 02.03.2020 ASKED BY SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM REGARDING 'LITERACY RATE IN JHARKHAND'.

- (a) Various  factors  viz  poverty,  gender  and  social  inequities  etc  are  impeding  literacy  in Jharkhand State.
- (b) Yes,  Saakshar  Bharat  Programme  has  been  implemented  in  Jharkhand  from  2009  till March 2018. Details of fund allocation to Jharkhand to improve the literacy rate during the last three years is as under:-
- (c) In Jharkhand, as per Census 2011, adult literacy rate is 66.41 percent, as compared to the national average adult literacy rate of 72.98 percent. Saakshar Bharat programme covered 410 districts in the country, including 24 districts of Jharkhand.

| Year        | Central Share Released   | State Share Released   | Total funds released   |
|-------------|--------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| 2016-17     | 6,30,24,000              | 4,20,16,000            | 10,50,40,000           |
| 2017-18*    | --                       | --                     | --                     |
| 2018-19     | 6,00,00,000              | 4,00,00,000            | 10,00,00,000           |
| Grand Total | 12,30,24,000             | 8,20,16,000            | 20,50,40,000           |

Basic Literacy Assessment Test was conducted by NIOS to assess the proficiency level of  functional  literacy skills attained  by  learners. In Jharkhand, total number of 50,75,964 adult learner appeared in the test and 41,44,515 succeeded (including 25.94 lakh women)

- (d)& (e)   Under the Saakshar Bharat Programme, districts with female literacy rate of 50 per cent  or  below  (as  per  2001  Census)  and  all  districts  worst  affected  by  left  wing  extremist violence,  were  eligible  for  coverage  under  the  programme.    Accordingly,  a  total  410  districts, including 30 worst affected  left  wing  extremism  (13  in  Jharkhand)  districts  were  identified  as eligible for coverage under the programme.

The programme achieved 7.64 crore adult literates, (including 5.38 crore women), against the  target  of  7  crore,  as  per  NIOS  Basic  Literacy  Assessment  Test  results,  till  the  last  test conducted  in  March  2018.  The  program  covered  1.88  crore  SCs,  1.08  crore  STs,  75  lakh Minority adult learners who were certified literate. In the state of Jharkhand, 25.94 lakh female and 15.50 lakh male adult learners (total 41.44 lakh adults) were made literate, including 6.95 lakh SC, 12.45 lakh ST and 4.65 lakh minority learners.