Govt to give awards for promoting literacy

One district, on development block and three gram panchayats to get Mukhyamantri Saksharta Puraskar

A motivator, an instructor and a neo-literate from each district to receive Mukhyamantri Akshar Samman

Proposal passed during state literacy mission authority’s executive panel meeting

Raipur, March 16, 2013

To promote literacy in rural pockets the government will commence annual awards - Mukhyamantri Saksharta Puraskar Yojna (MMSPY) and Mukhyamantri Akshar Samman (MMAS). A proposal in this regard was passed during state literacy mission authority’s (SLMA) executive panel meeting convened by school education minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Friday.

According to information, the MMSPY will be state replica of Centre’s Saakshar Bharat Puraskar. There will be five awards under MMSPY for promoting adult education in rural belts. The awards will be given to best performing district, development block and three gram panchayats.

Under MMAS, a motivator, an instructor and a neo-literate of every district will be awarded. All the award recipients will receive a citation and cash prize.

In the meeting, Agrawal asked the officials to launch Samtulyata programme to encourage neo-literates to appear and clear class V and VIII exams. He said the programme should be launched as a campaign and organised twice in a year. He said the courses for these exams should be prepared by state council for educational research and training ((SCERT).

He emphasised on organising residential camps under Saakshar Bharat Programme (SBP) in naxal-infested and inaccessible areas.

He felt that separate buildings should be constructed for public education centres being operated in gram panchayats selected under SBP. For this, he said, funds should be arranged from panchayat and rural development department.

The minister said review of literacy programmes under SBP should be done through video conferencing. He directed the officials to organise quarterly conference of motivators and instructors.

To monitor literacy programmes under SBP, he said district-wise responsibilities should be delegated to school education department’s officials.

He also directed officials to make provision to give honorariums to instructors.

The meeting was attended by ACS panchayat and rural development department Vivek Dhand, secretary school education KR Pisda, SCERT director Anil Rai, director Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission Reena Kangale, SLMA director Rita Shandilya, etc. In this connection, he said, letter should be sent to all district collectors.