Imphal: In a significant milestone for education in India, Mizoram has been declared a fully literate state. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a special ceremony at the Auditorium of Mizoram University in Aizawl on Tuesday, marking a momentous achievement in the state’s journey since attaining statehood in 1987.
This declaration makes Mizoram the first state in the country to achieve full functional literacy. The event saw the presence of key dignitaries including Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, Mizoram’s Minister of School Education, Higher & Technical Education Dr. Vanlalthlana, Chief Secretary to the Government of Mizoram Khilli Ram Meena, along with other senior officials, educators and students.
Mizoram has long been among the top performers in terms of literacy, ranking third in the 2011 Census with a literacy rate of 91.33%. Building on this foundation, the state adopted the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to bridge the final gap and reach every remaining non-literate person.
A state-wide door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators identified 3,026 non-literate individuals. Of these, 1,692 joined learning activities under the ULLAS initiative. With the Ministry of Education defining full literacy as a rate above 95%, Mizoram surpassed the benchmark, recording a 98.20% literacy rate in the PFLS 2023–24 survey.
This effort was driven by 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators and local officials, who worked closely with communities in the spirit of Kartavya Bodh. “Their dedication, supported by the Mizoram government and the community, played a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of the state,” the release noted.
ULLAS, a centrally sponsored scheme under the National Education Policy 2020, aims to educate adults aged 15 and above who missed formal education. The programme covers Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education. Since its launch in 2022, the scheme has registered more than 2.37 crore learners and over 40.84 lakh volunteer teachers through the ULLAS mobile app. More than 1.77 crore neo-literates have taken part in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) nationwide.
While Ladakh became the first administrative unit in India to achieve full literacy earlier in June 2024, Mizoram’s success marks the first at the state level, raising the bar for others across the country.
BI Bureau
