The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Perambalur News : Three blocks record growth in literacy rate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Perambalur

Three blocks record growth in literacy rate

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMBALUR, SEPT. 19 . Three blocks in Perambalur district have registered a steady growth in female literacy rate as per the 2001 census, the Collector, D. Vivekanandan, has said.

Presiding over a day-long seminar on `World Population Day' sponsored by the Health Department here recently, Mr. Vivekanandan said the female literacy percentage in T.Pazhur, Veppur and Ariyalur blocks had registered an increase, over and above the national average of 46.58 per cent. The achievement in Ariyalur block was 52.02 per cent, followed by Veppur 48.34 per cent and T. Pazhur with 47.69 per cent.

The Collector said the Sendurai block accounted for the lowest female literacy rate of 46.14 per cent in the district. With a view to increasing the female literacy in this block, special efforts were being made through the `National Programme for the Education of Girls at Elementary Level' (NPEGEL) as part of the `Sarva Siksha Abhiyan' (Education for All).

Though the NPEGEL was introduced in all the four blocks last year, its implementation would continue only in the Sendurai block this year.

The district accounted for a population of 12.5 lakhs — men 5.88 lakhs and women 5.92 lakhs. The male and female literacy rates stood at 77.8 and 52.9 per cent respectively. An all-out effort was being made to achieve cent per cent literacy rate in the district and priority was being given for the successful implementation of the SSA, continuing education programme and establishing many new middle schools.

But, the increase in population was a major cause of concern, especially in registering headway in literacy rate, he said, appealing to the people to adopt small family norms. About 2,600 family welfare surgeries had been performed till June at various government hospitals in the district, against the target of 10,000 fixed for the current financial year.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, A. Arunachalam, who inaugurated the seminar, said illiteracy and poverty were the outcome of population explosion. He said an awareness should be created among the masses of the ill-effects of child marriage.

The chairman of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, M. Ravichandran, the Perambalur MLA, P.Rajarathinam and the president of the district panchayat, P.Thavaseelan, were among those who spoke.

Earlier, the Collector administered a pledge to the officials and members of the public as part of observance of the World Population Day.

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