HASSAN: Out of the 20 crore children between the age group of 6 to 14 years, 3 crore do not go to school while another 8.5 crore are dropouts who discontinued their education regretted Vinod Raina, member for Central Education Consultative Committee, and also member of the National Literacy Mission.

He was speaking after inaugurating the fifth State academic festival "Shykshanika Habba" organised by Bharat Goanna Vignaana Samiti in Hassan on Wednesday.

Mr. Raina said that ten years ago, economic growth had risen to 9 per cent from 3.5 per cent, which was the highest in the world.

However, this should reach the under privileged sector. Every effort should be made to include school dropouts into mainstream education. Unfortunately Indian children were deprived of education and they suffered from malnutrition.

Malnourished children

India had large number of malnourished children. In 1989 Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister wanted to take science to the doorstep of people and formed the Bharat Gnana Vignana Samiti under Educationist Adiseshaiah and 10 other members.

Good progress

In 18 years, this samiti covers 328 districts spread over 20 states with 4.5 lakh volunteers. It launched the literacy mission in 1990. The literacy percentage had risen from 52 per cent to 60 per cent.

He said many teachers, social workers and IAS officers were actively involved in the literacy mission. But after 1995, owing to too much interference from the bureaucracy and neglect by Government, the progress was reduced. He wanted more gnana vignana centres to be set up in all villages in order to create scientific awareness and to educate them on democracy and secularism.

Former Registrar of Kannada University Hampi professor K.V. Narayan delivered the keynote address. Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, zilla panchayat CEO F.R. Jamaadar, Deputy Director of Public Instruction Dena Naik and senior journalist R.P. Venkatesh Murthy were also present.

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