The Madhya Pradesh government is launching a new initiative to empower students as ‘literacy ambassadors.’ Under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram scheme, students in Classes 9 to 12 will be tasked with teaching four non-literate individuals. This program aims to help these learners prepare for the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). The announcement was made by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, via a social media post on X.
The programme focuses on imparting functional literacy including reading, writing, and numeracy skills, and enriches learners with critical life skills, fostering lifelong learning, the official document stated. The ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, also known as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), is a centrally sponsored initiative that aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The scheme aims to empower adults aged 15 and above from all backgrounds who missed formal schooling, helping them integrate into society and contribute to the nation’s growth, according to the central government. India faces a significant literacy challenge, with 25.76 crore non-literate individuals in the 15 years and above age group, comprising 9.08 crore males and 16.68 crore females, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) reported, according to the Census 2011.
