Saakshar Bharat Mission

1. The Prime Minister launched Saakshar Bharat Mission, a centrally sponsored scheme of Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India (GoI), on the International Literacy Day, 8th September, 2009. It aims to further promote and strengthen Adult Education, specially of women, by extending educational options to those adults who having lost the opportunity of access to formal education and crossed the standard age for receiving such education, now feel a need for learning of any type, including, literacy, basic education (equivalency to formal education), vocational education (skill development), physical and emotional development, practical arts, applied science, sports and recreation.

2. Saakshar Bharat has been devised as the new variant of National Literacy Mission. Saakshar Bharat will cover all adults in the age group of 15 and beyond though its primary focus will be on women. The scheme has not only been relieved of the shortcomings noted in its preceding editions, but also, several new features added to it. Basic Literacy, Post literacy and Continuing Education programmes, will now form a continuum, rather than sequential segments. Besides, the volunteer based mass campaign approach, provision has been made for alternative approaches to adult education. Jan Shiksha Kendras (Adult Education Centres) (AECs), will be set up to coordinate and mange all programmes, within their territorial jurisdiction. State Government, as against the districts in the earlier versions, and Panchayti Raj institutions, along with communities, will be valued stakeholders. Vigorous monitoring and evolution systems will be installed. Last, but not the least, budgetary support has been enhanced substantially.

3. Saakshar Bharat will come into operation from 1.10.2009. Though duration of the scheme, National Literacy Mission, was valid only till the end of the Tenth Five Year Plan, residual activities under the Mission were allowed to continue till 30.09.2009 , as a special dispensation, so that the ongoing activities could be completed during the extended period. With the launch of Saakshar Bharat, the National Literacy Mission and its entire programmes and activities stand concluded on 30.09.2009.

Objectives

The Mission has four broad objectives, namely:
i. Impart functional literacy and numeracy to non-literate and non-numerate adults.
ii. Enable the neo-literate adults to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to formal educational system.
iii. Impart non and neo-literates relevant skills development programmes to improve their earning and living conditions.
iv Promote a learning society by providing opportunities to neo literate adults for continuing education.

Targets

The principal target of the mission is to impart functional literacy to 70 million adults in the age group of 15 years and beyond. Auxiliary target of the mission is to cover 1.5 million adults under basic education programme and equal number under vocational (skill development) programme. Within these targets, the Mission will primarily focus on, but not limited to, women. Schedules Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) Minorities, other disadvantaged groups and adolescents in rural areas in low literacy States will be other focused groups. For each focused groups and area, there will be a specific target and for each target, an explicit approach and strategy.

Role of SIRD

A Training of Trainers under Saakshar Bharat Mission was organized by NIRD Hyderabad during January 2010. As mandated by NIRD by NIRD, SIRD Rajasthan would be conducting the following programmes for PRIs:
1. One day sensitization on Saakshar Bharat Mission
2. Five Day Training to Master Trainers
3. Three day Training to Block Level functionaries along with Gram Panchayat Level functionaries.
4. Two days training to elected representatives of Block Panchayats and Gram Panchyats.
5. A two day sensitization Workshop for Zila Prmukshs, CEOs of Zila Parishad and District Literacy Officers has already been conducted by SIRD Rajasthan during March 5-6, 2010. The Workshop was inaugurated by Hon'ble C.M. of Rajasthan.