The Hindu : Chennai chosen for literacy programme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Chennai chosen for literacy programme

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI MARCH 9. Nine districts have been sanctioned a total of Rs. 30 crores for implementing the Continuing Education Programme through the Directorate of Non-formal and Adult Education, Chennai.

Chennai, Tiruchi, Perambalur, Karur, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Dindigul and Dharmapuri were chosen for implementing the five-year programme beginning this year, according to the Director, State Resource Centre for Non-formal Education, John A. Joseph.

The programme was already being implemented in nine other districts and they had now been granted the second tranche of assistance of Rs. nine crores, he said here today.

The programme, designed to provide a holistic development to the beneficiaries, was consisting of equivalency, income generating, quality of life improvement and individual interest promotion components, he told a workshop for officials from various government departments here.

The workshop was an exposure for the officials to understand the structured programme in its entirety before the implementation, he said.

The Collector, K. Manivasan, said a total of Rs. 4.95 crores had been sanctioned for the district and the first instalment of Rs. 1.7 crores had been released for implementing the programme.

Out of the total district population of 23.89 lakhs according to the 2001 census, 79.16 per cent were literate.

In the primary education front, while the completion rate was 54, the drop-out was 18 per cent and the repetition rate was 28.

Dr. Manivasan felt that the high illiteracy rate of 40.73 among rural women in the district did not augur well for development and they should be given priority.

Efforts should be furthered to educate the 29.43 per cent illiterate rural men.

Under the programme, a total of 468 continuing education centres would be set up.

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