Uncertainty dogs literacy initiative

Expressbuzz, June 29, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: The literacy drive under continuing education programme of National Literacy Mission, launched in 2003-04 in Kalahandi, has lost its way due to financial crunch and lack of direction. The programme was launched for a period of five years with in an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore. But till date, the Zilla Sakshyarata Samiti has received only Rs 5.30 crore.

The initial awareness and literacy movement created has already faded away due to poor funding. Under the programme, 56 Nodal Continuing Education Centres having one prerak and one assistant prerak each and 580 Continuing Education Centres having one prerak and one assistant prerak each are functioning. However, the fund crunch has paralysed the various activities of continuing education in the district. In the process the prerak and assistant preraks of Nodal Continuing Education Centres and Continuing Education Centres have not received their honorarium for last 33 months. There are 658 preraks and 628 assistant preraks working under the project in the district. Incidentally 146 among the preraks are graduates and 19 are post-graduates while among assistant preraks 72 are graduates and 12 are post-graduates.

At a meeting organised by Prerak Sangha of Kalahandi here recently under chairmanship of its president Manoj Kumar Pradhan, participants expressed concern and demanded release of stipulated fund to reactivate the literacy campaign and disburse the outstanding honorarium dues of preraks and assistant preraks. At the meeting MP Bhakta Charan Das was appraised of the plight of the preraks and assistant preraks and urged to intervene.

Incidentally the National Literacy Mission is also confused about the literacy movement. In a letter on February 18, director of Mass Education asked to collector-cum-chairman of Zilla Sakshyarata Samiti to settle accounts of the scheme presently underway in the district stating that the project would be declared closed with effect from March 31. The director further stated in the letter that Centre would implement simultaneous programmes for each category of learners.

After receipt of the letter, the Continuing Education Programme in the district, which would have been closed in September, was wound up in March amid confusion and uncertainty. However, on May 20 and June 2, two letters reached the district authorities which asked them to continue the Continuing Education Programme till the introduction of restructured programme of National Literacy Mission or September 30 whichever is earlier. Thus the programme, which was stopped on March 31, was again revived.

Amidst this confusion, the release of backlog amount of Rs 8.50 crore to the Zilla Sakshyarata Samiti and payment of arrears, including outstanding honorarium to preraks and assistant preraks, have been pushed to the back-burner.