Prez urges “Each one, Teach one” for achieving universal literacy

NEW DELHI, Sept 8:
President Pranab Mukherjee today urged all to follow the principle of “Each one, Teach one” for success in achieving universal literacy.
Speaking at the 50th International Literacy Day Celebrations, where he was the chief guest, the President said achieving universal literacy was not possible without mass participation.
India, he said, continues to have a large population of illiterates. ”It is time for us to identify the critical areas that need to be addressed. Joint action by Government and Non- Government organisations is necessary so that we can generate momentum to achieve hundred per cent literacy.”
The President said literacy movement ”is a continuous cycle as regular follow up is necessary to not only make people literate but also keep them literate.”
Besides pursuing the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNESCO is also launching a ‘Global Alliance for Literacy’ to promote literacy as the foundation for life-long learning. India needs to strengthen and synthesize its efforts in line with these global initiatives, he noted and wished these programmes all success.
Present on the occasion were Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar, Mr Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and & UNESCO Representative to India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka and Dr. Subhash Chandra Khuntia, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, an official statement here said. (UNI)