The New Indian Express 09.09.2009

TN aims at 80 pc literacy rate

CHENNAI: The State government was taking effective steps to increase the literacy rate of Tamil Nadu from the present 78 per cent to 80 per cent by 2012. This was stated by the School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu here on Tuesday

Addressing the Internationial Literacy Day celebrations here, the Minister said literacy rate of Tamil Nadu stood at 73.45 per cent in 2001 and it had reached 78 per cent now thanks to the efforts of the Directorate of non-formal and adult education as well as the

Directorate of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The national project for increasing women’s literacy would be implemented in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri in the first phase, he said and added that the move would help the women in Tamil Nadu on increasing the literacy rate of women on par with men.

Observing that freedom movement of the nation was recorded properly giving details about what had happened time to time, the Minister said efforts should be taken to record the progress made in women’s emancipation in the country.

Chennai Mayor M Subramanian said the Chennai Corporation had adopted 820 needy children and providing educational opportunities for them.

School Education Secretary M Kutralingam, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Project Director R Venkatesan and Director of School Education, P Perumalsamy, Director, Directorate of Non-formal, M Lakshmi and Adult Education and senior officials also participated.

Earlier, a rally was taken out from Doordarshan Kendra to mark the International Literacy Day that was flagged off by Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni.