MOU Signed Between PFC Ltd and National Literacy Mission Authority

 The Rural Electrification Corporation and the  National Literacy Mission Authority signed an MoU here today in the presence of Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development..  The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited has agreed to extend assistance to “Saakshar Bharat” Programme under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to set up 100 Model Adult Education Centers (AECs) in urban areas and upgradation of 220 existing AECs in rural areas of Saakshar Bharat districts at a total cost of Rs. 10.5 crore.  

          In the context of Government’s overall policy aimed at empowerment of women and in recognition of the fact that literacy is a pre-requisite for socio-economic development, the National Literacy Mission has been recast as “Saakshar Bharat”.  Under this flagship programme of the Government, at least 70 million non-literate adults of 15+ age are targeted to be made literate.  To reduce gender disparity in literacy by 10%, 60 million out of total target of 70 million will be women.  To minimize regional disparities, the programme is confined to those districts that had adult female literacy rate of 50% or less as per 2001 Census.  Besides, districts affected by left wing extremisms are also covered under the Mission irrespective of the literacy rate.  The programme has thus been rolled out in rural areas of 372 districts in 25 States and one UT of 410 targeted districts.

          Adult Education in India has always been predominantly a government responsibility with some degree of involvement of NGOs.  In contrast to very prominent collaboration in the case of formal school system the contribution of private and corporate sector in adult education has been miniscule.  Private and corporate sector can play a momentous role in promoting objectives of the Mission.  The guidelines on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) made by the Government for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) make it mandatory for CPSEs to necessarily spend a percentage of their net profit on different activities as part  their corporate responsibility.  The mission has identified following possible areas of collaboration with CPSEs.

·        Educational and Research activities in Adult Education

·        Joint Environment building and mobilization campaign for literacy and adult education programme.

·        Promoting and strengthening vocational training/skill development activities.

·        Construction of Building for Adult Education Centre (AECs) on Government owned land.

·        Upgradation of AECs into model AECs by providing ICT infrastructure viz. Projector, TVs, Computers and Solar Energy Backup equipment etc.

·        Sponsoring Seminars and other Exchange Programmes.

·        Sponsoring of multi-tier awards for literacy educators, literacy managers, neo-literates and other stake-holders.

·        Any other field mutually agreed.

An interactive meeting with CEOs of major Public Sector Enterprises and Banks was held under the chairpersonship of  HRD Minister on 19^th May, 2010 at Scope Convention Centre, New Delhi.  The purpose was to arrive at an approach to further augment the flagship programme of the government “Saakshar Bharat” through active support of the CPSEs/Banks.