Tejinder sodhi
‘Literacy is not intended to make lawyers or clergymen; soldiers or masters, farmers or artisans but to carve a human being capable of judging, justifying and living with honor and dignity.’
Our constitution has enunciated the following Directive Principle of the state policy regarding universalization of elementary education
“The sate shall endeavor to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years’ (article 45)
even four decades after the dead line (1960) we are still nowhere near the goal of universalization of elementary education (that is up to 8th class) or for that matter even primary education (that is up to class 5th) in fact according to the report of the committee for review of National Policy on Education 1986, studies show that if the present demographic, investment, enrolment and retention pattern persists universalization may continue to be an elusive goal even in the next century. The targets are ever receding. Our education programmes have failed to bring anything fruitful into their fold. Programmes like National Adult Education Programme, 1978, non-formal education programme, National Literacy Mission, 1988, operation Black board 1987-88, brought nothing to cherish. Besides, the Nation was promised that by year 2000, the light of education would enlighten all the corners of the nation; all the sections of the society, but unfortunately because of inadequate resources, lack of proper planning, and probably non-involvement of youth, and lack of political backing never let the dream to come true.
The literacy status of the population of our country is very low and worse in case of females.
Here, it is note worthy that full credit goes to Late Shikh Mohd. Abdullah regarding the universalization of education In Kashmir, result of which can be witnessed by our eyes now the situation has come to a halt.
In such circumstances, literacy campaign can prove very effective, if run efficiently and youth can play an indispensable role in this context and as such the most important role would be to make the programme alive to new advance. The world over researchers and experiences clearly demonstrate that the quality of life of people in a nation depends directly on the level of education.
Youth, the life line of the nation, constitute a significant section of society. Resourceful, energetic, youth being the store house of power and can go against tide, as such their energies should be properly and adequately utilized, and there can be no alternative than the literacy- campaigns.
Being full of enthusiasm, having capacity of clear thinking and the receptivity of new ideas, youth may play their part well in organizing literacy campaigns and the motive behind. They can easily be accessible by the target-audience. Moreover, it will enable the youth to sift truth from falsehood and facts from propaganda. This capacity further gives him intellectual integrity to reject the dangerous appeal of prejudice, narrow- mind ness and fanaticism.
Literacy-campaigns can have other side as well. It can play an important and decisive role in training the youth to take an effective part in the social reconstruction and development of the Nation. They can generate awareness among masses by coming in direct interaction with the masses. They can generate the feelings of togetherness and social feelings in them which would help in their overall development.
The present education-system is responsible for creating a gulf between the education and the un-educated, between the intelligent and common people. This gap is harmful for national unity. To remove this evil, it should be made obligatory for the youth to participate in social and national service which should be provided in various forms at all stages of education. This will also help in:
Creating Discipline.
Developing a sense of social responsibility
The mission of such campaign should be to lit one candle by another because education increases by spreading it.
Each one teaches one (Late Indira Gandhi)
Literacy campaigns have scored significant successes in:
Kottayam city (Kerala) declared fully literate on 25th June 1989
Ernakulam District (Kerala) declared fully literate on 4th of February 1990.
Eleven Villages in Rajasthan and 167 villages in Gujarat declared fully literate in 1989-90.
If they can do it, why can’t we let us all join hands to work for noble cause?
Little drops of water, little grains of sand make the mighty oceans and the pleasant land.
Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy like the heavens above.