Blitz Bureau
IN a landmark moment for the nation’s educational journey, Mizoram became the first fully literate state under the Central Government’s ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative.
Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary congratulated the people of Mizoram on this remarkable achievement and commended the dedication of all stakeholders involved. Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced here on May 20, “We celebrate this day not as the end of a campaign, but as the dawn of a new era of opportunity, empowerment, and inclusion,”
Mizoram, which attained statehood in 1987, has consistently ranked among the top states in terms of literacy. According to the 2011 Census, it had a literacy rate of 91.33 per cent, the third-highest in the country at the time. Building on this solid foundation, the state implemented the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to identify and educate the remaining non-literate individuals.
A comprehensive door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) identified 3,026 non-literate persons in the state. Of these, 1,692 actively participated in learning activities.
Based on this outreach and the Ministry of Education’s benchmark that defines full literacy as a literacy rate above 95 per cent, Mizoram successfully crossed the threshold. The PFLS survey for 2023–24 confirmed this success, placing the state’s literacy rate at an impressive 98.20 per cent.
This achievement was made possible through the commitment of 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators, and local officials, who took up the mission of educating every last citizen with a spirit of Kartavya Bodh (sense of duty) and deep cultural pride. Their dedication, supported by the Mizoram government and the community, played a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of the state.
ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram is a Centrally- sponsored initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at promoting adult education. The programme focuses on five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Launched in 2022 and running till 2027, it targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.
