1. SAAKHAR BHARAT MISSION

2. Basic Literacy- Comparative analysis
Census 2011 revealed that Literacy in India has made remarkable strides. Literacy rate of India stands at 72.98%. Overall Literacy rate has grown by 8.14 percent points in the last decade (64.84% in 2001 & 72.98% in 2011). The male literacy rate has grown by 5.62 percent points(75.26% in & 80.88% in 2011) whereas female literacy rate percent points (53.67% in 2001 & 64.63% in 2011). Number of illiterates(7+ age group) decreased from million in to million in 2011.
States reported with literacy rate greater than 90% : Kerala (94%), Lakshadweep (91.85%) and Mizoram (91.33%).

3. States with literacy rate between national average (72
States with literacy rate between national average (72.98%) and below 90% : Tripura (87.22%), Goa (88.70%), Daman & Diu (87.10%), Puducherry (85.85%), Chandigarh (86.05%), Delhi (86.21%), A&N Islands (86.63%), Himachal Pradesh (82.80%), Maharashtra (82.34%), Sikkim (81.42%) Tamil Nadu (80.09%), Nagaland (79.55%), Manipur (76.94%), Uttarakhand (78.82%), Gujarat (78.03%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (76.24%), West Bengal (76.26%), Punjab (75.84%), Haryana (75.55%), Karnataka (75.36%) and Meghalaya (74.43%).
Literacy rate in rural areas stands at 67.77% with rural male literacy rate 77.15% and rural female literacy rate 57.93%. Whereas literacy rate in urban areas stands at 84.11% with urban male literacy rate at 88.76% and urban female literacy at %.
Literacy rate of SCs stands at 66.07% (Male SCs 75.17% & Female SCs 56.46%).Whereas Literacy rate of STs stands at 58.95% (Male STs 68.51% & Female STs 49.36%).

4. Skill Development Programme
Under the Central Sector Scheme of “Support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development”, 32 State Resource Centres (SRCs)and 251 Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) funded by the Government of India also help in development of academic curriculum for literacy and imparting skill training to non-literates/neo- literates respectively. Besides, Rotary India International is also associated with National Literacy Mission in spreading literacy among 1,00,000 learners. Periodic review meetings of SRCs and JSSs are held for monitoring their performances and sharing the feedback. 

5. Equivalency Programme in India
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) offers the Open Basic Education Programme as an equivalency programme that targets children and is also offered for adults in the 15+ age group through open and distance learning methodology. Since 2002, the Government of India has recognised the Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme as a programme that is equivalent to formal schooling. The NIOS is the first and, at present, the only institution in the country to offer programmes from primary to senior secondary levels through open schooling

6. Target Learners/Groups
The Open Basic Education meets the educational needs of thus far unreached children, provides and alternative source of education for school “drop-outs’’; makes a provision for those who can not attend conventional schools for socio-economic reasons; as well as enable those who could not complete schooling to re-enter the education system.
NIOS has two major categories of learners at the OBE level-
Children of school going age (6-14) years who can not go to school or have drop-out of school for some reason.
Young adults (15+)age group who can not go to formal school because of their.
some of reasons for such persons not going to school may be difficult geographical terrain such as hilly areas or islands; poverty- street children urban slum people, or the need to earn a living which prevents them from attend regular school.

7. Choice and Flexibility allowed under Equivalency Programme
The equivalency to learners to choose subjects of choice and helps to manage learning at their own time and pace . The following choice/flexibility are offered to the learners in various components of the programme . Admission; learners are allowed flexibility in regard to admission , choice of place, time and pace of learning. Entry: Eligible learners have the choice to join any level of equivalency programme. Age limit: Persons of the age 15+ years are eligible for the registrations . There is no upper age limit for any level of the programme. Subject choice: Choice in selection of the vocational subject is offered at each level depending on the availability of these courses . Learners are encouraged to select vocational subject as per their work experience/choice.

8. The Equivalency Programme under Saakshar Bharat in India
Equivalency programme designd under Saakshar Bharat covers all adults in the age group of 15 and above . It aims to provide second chance to those who have missed opportunities of formal education . This programme enables to the neo-literates, school dropouts in the age group of 15+ to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to formal education level . The Saakshar Bharat Scheme imparts functional for neo-literate adults that is , self reliance in Reading . Writing and Arithmetic (Numeracy).

9. Thanking You