Tripura declared India’s 3rd fully literate state
text_fields
Agartala: In a landmark achievement, Tripura has been declared a fully literate state, with its literacy rate reaching 95.6 per cent. The northeastern state now joins Mizoram and Goa as the only three Indian states to surpass the threshold set by UNESCO for full literacy.
Speaking at a function in Agartala, Preeti Meena, Director of Adult Education at the Union Ministry of Education, announced the milestone. She explained that UNESCO defines full literacy as achieving a literacy rate of over 95 per cent.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report for 2023–24, Tripura’s literacy rate stood at 93.7 per cent. The state had a non-literate population of 23,184 at that time. However, through the successful implementation of the ‘ULLAS – Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society’ initiative, under the New India Literacy Programme, the literacy rate has now risen to 95.6 per cent.
Meena urged the newly literate population to continue their educational journey and emphasised that Tripura aims to be officially recorded as fully literate in the 2027 Census. She also highlighted India’s commitment to achieving nationwide full literacy by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the education portfolio, addressed the gathering and reflected on the state’s impressive journey. “In 1961, Tripura’s literacy rate was only 20.24 per cent. Over the decades, it grew steadily – reaching 73.66 per cent in 2001 and 87.22 per cent in the 2011 Census,” he noted.
He praised the ULLAS programme for focusing on reading, writing, and basic arithmetic, describing it as essential to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. Saha also noted that Tripura ranks second among northeastern states in terms of per capita income and GDP.
A senior official from the Education Department credited the success to a collaborative effort led by the School Education Department, the State Literacy Mission Authority, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), as well as retired teachers, student volunteers, and personnel from various levels.
Educational materials were made available in Bengali, English, and Kokborok – the language of the tribal population. Teachers and volunteers received specialised training, and youth participation was actively encouraged.
Thanks to the dedication of 2,228 volunteer teachers and the establishment of 943 Social Awareness Centres, literacy efforts reached even the remotest parts of the state. The Youth Literacy Corps also played a vital role. In many areas, volunteers taught in courtyards, hill markets, and community spaces, ensuring no one was left behind.
The official noted that earlier literacy programmes focused mainly on basic signature skills. The new model under ULLAS has shifted to functional literacy, which includes financial awareness, digital literacy, basic mathematics, and other practical knowledge.
Tripura had ranked third in literacy in the 2011 Census, behind Kerala and Mizoram. With this new declaration, the state has now reclaimed its position as a leader in the national literacy mission.
Senior state officials and education department personnel were present during the announcement ceremony.
With IANS inputs