Has Tripura Become India’s 3rd Fully Literate State After Mizoram and Goa?

Agartala, June 23 (NationPress) In a remarkable achievement, Tripura has been officially declared fully literate, with its literacy rate soaring to 95.6 percent. During a ceremony, Preeti Meena, the Director of Adult Education from the Union Ministry of Education, announced that Tripura has joined the ranks of Mizoram and Goa as the third state in India to achieve this prestigious status.

Meena explained that UNESCO designates states surpassing the 95 percent literacy threshold as fully literate. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the fiscal year 2023–24, Tripura's literacy rate was previously recorded at 93.7 percent, with a non-literate population of 23,184. Thanks to the effective implementation of the ‘ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) – New India Literacy Programme’, this figure has now risen to 95.6 percent, as highlighted by Meena.

She further emphasized India's goal under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve complete literacy by 2030. Meena encouraged the newly literate individuals to continue their education to ensure Tripura is recognized as fully literate in the upcoming 2027 Census.

The Government of India launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'ULLAS' for 2022-2027 to address all facets of 'Education For All', aligning it with the National Education Policy 2020.

Tripura's Chief Minister Manik Saha remarked that in 1961, the state's literacy rate was a mere 20.24 percent. He noted the significant progress that brought the rate to 87.22 percent in the 2011 Census, up from 73.66 percent in 2001.

“In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for 'Viksit Bharat 2047', literacy plays a crucial role,” the Chief Minister stated. He highlighted the core components of the ULLAS initiative, which focus on reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.

According to Saha, Tripura ranks second among northeastern states in terms of per capita income and GDP.

An Education Department official noted that the successful execution of the ULLAS program involved the collaboration of various stakeholders, including the School Education Department, the State Literacy Mission Authority, and retired teachers. Educational materials were developed in Bengali, English, and tribal Kokborok languages, and teachers received special training to engage students as volunteers.

The relentless efforts of 2,228 volunteer teachers, 943 Social Awareness Centres, and the Youth Literacy Corps have ensured that education reaches even the most remote areas of Tripura. Some volunteers have set up classrooms in their courtyards, while others taught literacy basics in local markets. In 2011, Tripura was ranked as the third-highest literate state in the country, following Kerala and Mizoram.

However, the official noted that previous literacy efforts primarily focused on basic signature skills, whereas the government has shifted towards promoting functional literacy.

This new approach aims not only to provide basic literacy but also to foster knowledge in financial awareness, digital transactions, basic arithmetic, and various practical skills through well-structured initiatives.

Senior officials from the Tripura government were present at the event.