BHUBANESWAR: With a few days left for official declaration of results of the ongoing panchayat polls, State Resource Centre for Adult Education (SRCAE) is ready with an action plan to train the newly-elected representatives to enable them to make illiterate villagers partners in development.

The adult literacy campaign has been specially designed keeping office-bearers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in mind. The campaign, which is expected to be launched from coming May, will target PRI representatives in 10 districts, including eight districts of the poverty-stricken KBK region.

After devolution of power to PRIs, the representatives were finding it tough to make the illiterate people understand about various welfare schemes, according to SRCAE Programme Coordinator Sanjeev Pradhan.

Awareness drive

Every panchayat in the State now handles project worth nearly Rs. 30 lakhs annually. Moreover, the trade of non-timber forest produces was also being dealt by panchayats.

He said: "the first duty of the newly-elected representatives will be to make villagers literate and aware of the pro-poor schemes. It is very important that the grassroot beneficiaries must understand the essence of a project coming up in their locality. Moreover, PRI representatives will be handling primary educations in their respective area. Unless they are equipped with a clear vision on education, how can they be the driving force of development," Mr. Pradhan said elaborating on the campaign.

The State still lags behind the national average in literacy. While national literacy level stands at 65.38 per cent of total population, Orissa has 63.61 per cent literate persons. However, the women literacy is abysmally low at 50.97 per cent.

The situation is worse in some KBK districts as the literacy stands at 34.26 per cent in Nawrangpur, 31.26 per cent in Malkanagiri, 35.61 per cent in Rayagada, 36.20 per cent in Koraput, 42.29 per cent in Nuapada and 46.20 per cent in Kalahandi.

"Our priority will be women representatives. From our experience, we are convinced that women are the best change makers," he said.

The campaign has been mainly formulated through two ways such as participatory and literacy through different activities. The SRCAE had started a pilot programme in connection with educating PRI representatives last year.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail