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Kerala may lose top place in literacy

Kerala may lose its most-cherished epithet -- being the state with the highest literacy rate -- if a recent survey under the guidelines of UNESCO is an indication.

According to a survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation under the department of statistics, Kerala has been pushed down to the fourth spot with 93 per cent literacy rate.

The survey, conducted for the National Literacy Mission, found that the Andaman and Nicobar islands emerged first with 97 per cent while another pretty island, Lakshadweep, came second with 96 per cent. The tiny state of Mizoram stood third with 95 per cent.

However, Kerala can still take some pride from the fact that the population of the first three achievers is insignificant compared to it. But, technically speaking, since there is no classification based on population, Kerala should be content with the fourth place, says Dr M G Sasibhooshan, director of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority.

According to the 1991 Census, Kerala had the highest rate of literacy with 89.81 per cent as against the all-India average of 52.21 per cent. The male literacy stood at 93.62 and female literacy at 86.17 per cent.

Interestingly, according to that Census, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (73.02 per cent), Lakshadweep (81.78) and Mizoram (82.27) ranked much below Kerala.

Considering this, the factors on which these states could make a turnaround possible should prompt a soul-searching, say many educationists.

Kerala, acclaimed as a model state mainly because of its high literacy rate, first notched this coveted position in 1961 registering 56.85 per cent literacy against the national average of 28 per cent.

Over the decades, it could steadily consolidate the position as the following Census reports have showed. The rate went up to 60.42 in 1971 and 70.42 in 1981, thus bringing in accolades from far and wide.

Leading activists and officials associated with the literacy campaign had attributed a number of reasons for the failure to keep up the momentum of literacy. Lethargy coupled with complacency both on the part of the officials and the people were the main reasons, a literacy mission authority official said.

However, the state authorities are not lying down. The issue was forthwith discussed in an executive meeting of the Authority which was also attended by the state director of general education.

The Mission has prepared a project, 'Operation Restoration for Total Literacy' and will submit it to the National Literacy Mission before March 31.

The project aims at winning back the top spot before 2001, when the next Census will be taken up. ''We are confident that we will be able to achieve this,'' says Dr Sasibhooshan.

The Mission would study the lapses in the campaign and conduct a survey to find out the weaker pockets before finalising a concrete plan to achieve the goal.

According to Dr Sasibhooshan, tribal belts in the districts of Idukki, Wayanad, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta and coastal areas in Alappuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam were the places where the campaign could not be very successful due to various factors.

Notwithstanding the rude shock, the findings of the survey were heartening on the national front with the literacy rate improving by 10 per cent during the period from 1991 to '97.

The national average picked up considerably to reach 62 in 1997 and 64 per cent in 1998 which meant India will achieve 75 per cent literacy by 2005, if the current tempo is maintained.

Another striking point was that the increase, for the first time, has been higher in rural areas -- 11 per cent against seven per cent in the urban areas. Also female literacy, which started picking up during the previous decade, has continued to keep up its momentum, the survey says.

UNI

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