1. Priya singh

2. Introduction
The Prime Minister launched Saakshar Bharat , a centrally sponsored scheme of Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) ,Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD),Government of India(GOI),on the International Literacy Day , 8th september,2009. It aims to further promote and strengthen Adult Education , specially of women , by extending educational options to those adults who having lost the opportunity of access to formal education and crossed the standard age for receiving such education , now feel a need for learning of any type , including ,literacy, basic education (equivalency to formal education) , vocational education (skill development) , physical and emotional development , practical arts , applied science , sports and recreation.

3. To impart functional literacy to non-literates in the age group of years in a time bound manner , the National Literacy Mission (NLM) was launched in 1988 and it continued through Ninth and Tenth Five Year Plans . It is in this background that Saakshar Bharat has been devised as the new variant of National Literacy Mission . Saakshar Bharat will coverd all adults in the age group of 15 and beyond though its primary focus will be on women. The scheme has not only been relieved of the shortcomings noted in its preceding editions, but also , several new features added to it. The Saakshar Bharat Mission has chosen six villages for ‘ Model Adults Education Centres’ under Lok Shiksha Samiti in the Karimnagar District , in Telangana State……..

4. Objectives of the Mission
Saakshar Bharat has four broader objectives –
Impart functional literacy and numeracy to non-literate and non numerate adults;
Enable the neo-literate adults to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to formal educational system ;
Impart non and neo-literates relevant skill development programmes to improve their earning and living conditions ;
Promote a learning society by providing opportunities to neo-literate adults for continuing education...

5. MAIN FEATURES OF SAAKSHAR BHARAT
1. Basic literacy, post literacy and continuing education programmes will now form a continuum rather than consequential segments.
2. In addition to the volunteer based mass campaign approach the Mission provides for alternative approaches to adult education.
3. State governments, Panchayati Raj institutions and local communities will be major stakeholders in the programme.
4. Lok shiksha Kendras (Adult Education Centres) will be set up at Gram Panchayat level to coordinate and manage the local elements of the programme.
5. Vigorous monitoring and evaluation systems will be put in place

6. Targets
The principal target is to impart functional literacy to adults in the age group of 15 years and beyond. Auxiliary targets are to cover adults under basic education programme and equal number under vocational (skill development) programme. It will focus on women, Schedule Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Minorities, other disadvantaged groups and adolescents in rural areas of selected districts
Teaching- Learning Process
To address the diverse needs of the non and neo-literate adults, Functional Literacy Programme, Basic Education Programme, Vocational Education and Continuing Education Programme will be offered as an integrated continuum.
(a) Functional Literacy Programme:- Literacy Programme will aim to „Impart functional literacy to non-literate adults‟. It aims at achieving self reliance in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic(Numeracy) and become aware of the causes of one‟s deprivation and moving towards amelioration of their condition through organization and participation in the process of development, acquiring skills to improve the economic status and general well being, Creating an aware and responsible citizen.

7. (b) Basic Education Programme:- "Enable the neo-literates to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and acquire equivalency to formal educational system." To enable young adults to continue their learning till they are able to achieve equivalent levels with Grade III, IV, V, VI, VII and beyond in the formal school system or through the open Learning System. (c) Vocational Education (Skill Development) Programme:- "To equip non and neo-literates with vocational skill to improve their living and earning conditions." Suitable skill development training to those having rudimentary levels of education or no education. Jan Shikshan Sansthans will assist Assistance to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development. Institutionally networked with the Adult Education Centres so that they could impart skill development training as well as literacy linked vocational training. (d) Continuing Education Programme:- Continuing education programme (CEP) is aimed at „Establishing a learning society by providing opportunities to neo literates and other targeted beneficiaries for lifelong learning‟. It will create a sustainable learning environment so that learners are encouraged to continue with their literary aspirations and take advantage to the programme facilities to satiate their learning appetite

8. Saakshar Bharat Programme in Special Reference With Manipur State
There is no SRC for Manipur State. Presently, Manipur is under the SRC (NEHU),Shillong and only two resource persons were engaged for the successful implementation of the Saakshar Bharat Programme i.e., one is in Thoubal District and another in the Senapati District . The SRC, NEHU helped in organizing various capacities building training for personnel of SLMA, Manipur, DLSS, Resource persons and other functionaries of the District. Various training programmes including Primer, Environment Building, Material Development, Other capacity building of GP functionaries were given to resource person, Master trainers, VTs, Preraks, Block co-ordinators etc. In order to accelerate the process of implementation of SBP for female literacy, the SRCs played an important role in the State.According to the guidelines of the Government of India, the principle responsibility of SRC is to provide academic resource to all agencies in the states engaged in adult and continuing education programmes.

9. Objective The following are the objectives of the SRCs;
Development of literacy materials (Primers), neo- liteerate Materials (books, booklets, etc) and other forms of literature;
Development of training manuals for different levels of functionaries
Imparting training for Resource persons, preraks, literacy educators, master trainers and district coordinators
Development of audio-visual aids for adult edu Monitoring and evaluation of literacy programmes being implemented by different agencies
Conduct research studies for the improvement of strategies for adult education programmes and
Innovations in the field of adult education cation programmes

10. REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAAKSHAR BHARAT PROGRAMME
The Saakshar Bharat Programme especially focus on female literacy is found to be quite successful as most of the learners can write their name, count number but in some areas of Thoubal District most of the learners can read newspaper and the number of female learners who had passed the NIOS-NLMA assessment were also increase year by year
In most of the centre of Thoubal District, the teaching learning materials provided to them are insufficient
Seating arrangement is mostly by mats and lighting arrangement is commonly with a candle or lamps that too are mostly from the pocket of the volunteer teachers
There is need for more awareness about the programme and lack of proper appreciation, motivation,incentive and reward for VTs for their efforts
Most of the prerak of the district doesn’t get their honorarium in time.
Thoubal District is found to be the first with highest woman marginal workers which affects a lot in the female literacy progamme in the District

11. In most of the AEC and the MAEC, the library and reading rooms are not properly maintained and insufficient. However, Library book donation campaign helping them to collect quite a number of books in some centres.
There is lack of audio-visual facilities in most of the adult education centres of Thoubal District except in the Model AECs.
In an AEC of Leisangthem , Thoubal District, Skill development programme is found to be conducted successfully under convergence programme with Home Sience Department of one college.
People are quite aware and very enthusiastic about the Literacy Programme now with the coming of Saakshar Bharat programme in the State. The Government and all stakeholders need to continue this program in the right path to bring more changes and development through Literacy.

12. conclusion
The overall impression gathering from this study is that the performance of the SBP in Manipur is progressing though it may not be a great success at present under the guidance and supervision of State Department, District Lok Shiksha Samiti and voluntary organizations and more progress is shown every year in the SBP than TLC or PLP period. Community participation is of great importance in the successful implementation of the Saakshar Bharat programme and the value of the programme can be achieved only when adult learners, their family, and society are interested in the adult education programme. With the change of the social scene in Manipur people are becoming conscious of the present social life which aims at happy and prosperous life. For the proper development of adult education there is need for good efficient and systematic planning. Co-operation and coordination of all the agencies should be ensured actually working in the field of adult education especially SBP.

13. references: “IMPACT OF SAAKSHAR BHARAT PROGRAMME IN MANIPUR”-
SHARMILA THINGBAIJAM
Research Scholar,
Department of Adult Continuing Education and Extension,
Saakshar Bharat Mission 2012, Department of School Education and Literacy Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India
Annual Administrative Report , Directorate of Adult Education, Government of Manipur, Babupara, Imphal.
Brief Report on Saakshar Bharat Programme Thoubal District, District Literacy Samiti, Thoubal, Manipur.
A brief Report on Basic Computer Training for preraks of Model Adult Education Centres funded by CONCOR,2012, Organized by Directorate of Adult Education, Governmnet of Manipur, SLMA.
National Literacy Mission Authority, Government of India, MHRD, Dept of School Education.

14. Thank You