IMPHAL Sept 8: Thoubal district has been awarded with Satyen Maitra Memorial Award by the National Literacy Mission Authority for the best performing district in the implementation of Saaksar Bharat Mission (SBM) in the state.
The announcement was made by the additional director of Adult Education Department, A Sarat Kumar on the occasion of International Literacy Day, 2011 observed today at Rupmahal Theater, Imphal.
Wangkhem MLA, K Meghachandra and Dr K Nabachandra, retired director of education (U) attended as the chief guest and president of the function.
A Saratkumar further asserted that this is the second time that the state is receiving the prestigious Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award with Bishnupur as the first district to get the award in the year 2008.
He recalled that the prime minister of India launched the SBM, a flagship programme, on the occasion of International Literacy day on September 8, 2009, in New Delhi. It aims to eradicate adult illiteracy; out of 60 millions are women, laying emphasis on adult literacy especially among women and other disadvantage segments of the society.
Subsequently the central government approved implementation of SBM in 4 districts which included Chandel, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Thoubal district. These four districts are included in the 375 districts of India women literacy, further adds the additional director.
The survey works of SBM were completed in the four districts in May 2010, according to which illiterate women in the age group of 15 years and above were identified in the districts. In Thoubal there are 34,2999, 14,648 in Chandel, 11,5799 in Tamenglong and 32,468 (including Mao, Maram, Paomata and Purul sub-division) in Senapati district.
Delivering his chief guest speech, MLA, K. Meghachandra, said Manipur, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are amongst the state in neck to neck competition in the implementation of SBM.
He urged voluntary teachers, implementing authorities etc to sincerely discharge their duties to ensure that target is achieved which includes achieving 80 percent literacy rate and reducing of gender gap in literacy to 10 percent by March 31, 2012.
The MLA also observed that such programe will help improving economic development of the state.
During the observation the Directorate of Adult Education, state literacy mission authority, Manipur also appointed Kh. Biswamittra, renowned film director of the state, as the state literacy ambassador.
M Bilasini Devi, was also awarded with best voluntary teacher of the state. The awars comprises a shawl, rupees 10,000 cash and a badge.