'Literacy rate in state higher than nat'l average'
Kolkata: The state government will soon fill up the vacancies in the Mass Education Extension and Library Services department, Siddiqullah Chowdhury, Minister of State of the department said on Saturday.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: "Today is International Literacy Day. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Our Govt is committed to spreading the light of education among all." He was addressing a gathering to celebrate the International Literacy Day at Rabindra Sadan on Saturday afternoon. He said as per the 2011 Census, the literacy rate in Bengal is 76 percent but has gone up by at least another 9-10 percent. According to 2011 Census, literacy rate in Bihar is 55 percent, Odisha is 69 percent, Assam is 62 percent and Jharkhand 60 percent. He said steps have already been taken to expedite the literacy drive in all the districts. In Bengal, West Midnapore has the highest literacy rate that is 92 percent while in Uttar Dinajpur and Purulia, the rates are 69 percent and 64 percent respectively.
Saugata Roy, the party's MP, alleged that the Centre was not providing funds to carry out literacy drives whereas the national rate of literacy is 73 percent compared to Bengal's 76 percent.
Shashi Panja, state minister for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, added that mere literacy is not enough and the neo-literates should be included in the skill development schemes of the state government.
Bratya Basu, state IT minister, assured that the department was ready to provide every cooperation to the Mass Education and Library Services department. The way Bengal has become the No. 1 state in the country in 100 days' work, it is not very far off from becoming the No. 1 state in literacy in India, he hoped.
State Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said in the past seven years, Bengal has made immense development in education. Literacy drives have been conducted in every Block.
