Literacy is a key factor for socio-economic progress and of all nations; India currently has the largest illiterate population. Despite government programs, India’s literacy rate increased only “sluggishly”and a study estimated that it would take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of progress.Illiteracy is the main hindrance in socio-economic development of India. Illiteracy of a mother is critical issue as it leads to several issues related to family and children well-being and development. Illiteracy is a prime factor for poverty, unemployment, child labor, female foeticide, population burst and many more. Our motto should be “each one teaches one”
There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate in India The low female literacy rate has had a dramatically negative impact on family planning and population stabilization efforts in India. Studies have indicated that female literacy is a strong predictor of the use of contraception among married Indian couples, even when women do not otherwise have economic independence.
Severe caste disparities also exist. Discrimination on basis of cast and religionhas resulted in high dropout rates and low enrollment rates in schools. Poverty in India has also hampered efficient delivery primary and secondaryeducation as education is not deemed of as the highest priority among the poor as compared to other basic necessities. The large proportion of illiterate females is another reason for the low literacy rate in India.
It is ironical that even today, some leaders and people’s representatives give literacy a low priority, pitting poverty alleviation, food, clothing, shelter, work, health etc. above it. They fail to perceive literacy as part of the development process, as an endeavor to improve the quality of life, as the process of building awareness among the weaker sections, as part of democratisation of political power, as the arrangement to give their due, to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. They are unable to appreciate the relevance of literacy in matters like infant mortality, immunisation, children’s participation in primary schools, population growth, family planning, women’s emancipation, social evils like child marriage, dowry, bride burning and so on. Neglecting the issue of illiteracy can hurt the development of India very badly.
Objectives:Bobby Mohanty Foundation has made it’s presence in the state of Odisha at Narsinghpur and Badamba block of Cuttack District and has always endeavored to spread Adult Literacy for women by opening Adult literacy Centers .BMFT offers free education to the beginners with basic reading, writing and small arithmetic calculations to young mothers, as well as old aged women. The ALC offers Visual and writing of regional alphabets and numeric numbers in figures and words which helps them in reading words and basic calculations. The result of BMFT ALC teachings also helps the women group to read regional newspaper and Epics and puranas like Mahabharata, Ramayana etc and understand the global village to some extent. We impart ALC training by selecting and appointing a literate women form the local rural community whom we designate Bobby Shakti. The Bobby Shakti Trainer is paid monthly remuneration for the literacy which is for 3 months. On completion of the training the learners are to appear for a test and are rewarded merit wise.
Adult literacy centre
Education Materials provided by BMFT:
1. Writing Slates, Alphabet and word books, blackboard, chalk, attendance register,
2. Time selection for imparting adult literacy is based on unanimous decision of the students.
3. Duration of course is 3 months.
4. Adult women of all age groupare selected for ALC.
5. Total Litracycentrescompleted :
Narsinghpur: 50 Villages
Badmba : 27 Villages
This has resulted in women sending their children for education.
