Because of various historical and social reasons Rajasthan has the lowest female literacy and second lowest over all literacy in India. The literacy percentage in the State according to 1991 census was 38.55% . The female literacy was as low as 20.4%. There were 7.5 million illiterates in the age group of 15 to 35. In order to achieve the objective of the literate society it was not enough only to concentrate on education of children but also to educate the parents. The literacy programme for the adults had been run in this State under the name of Adult Education Programme, the approach varying from 'Centre based' to 'each one teach one' concept.

In the year 1988 National Literacy Mission was set up with a view to make the literacy programme a people' campaign. Each district prepares its own strategy for making the 15-35 year population literate and the project is submitted to the National Literacy Mission for approval. The per learner cost has been in the range of Rs.60/- to 120/-

Salient features of the literacy campaign:-

1. This is a programme to make the population in the age group of 15 to 35 literate within a specified time frame with a mission made.

2. This is a voluntary campaign where no payment is made to the voluntary teacher who is expected to make 10 illiterates literate.

3. This campaign is run by the Zila Saksharta Samiti headed by District Collector which consists of the elected representatives of the district, the representatives of N.G.Os and various segments of the society.

4. For creating a learning environment, various techniques are used including 'Kala Jathas' taken out by local artists.

5. Separate set of books called primers based on IPCL approach are prepared. These are based on the adult psychology and it is expected that an illiterate can become literate after 200 hours of learning.

6. The emphasis in the literacy campaign is on all round development of the personality rather than on imparting the literacy skills only. A person is considered literate according to NNM norms only when he acquires the following abilities:-

Reading:-

(a) Reading along with normal accent simple passage on a topic related to the interest of the learners at a speed of 30 words per minute.

(b) Reading silently small paragraphs in simple language at a speed of 35 words per minute.

(c) Reading with understanding road signs, posters, simple instructions and newspapers for neo-literates etc.

(d) Ability to follow simple written messages relating to one's working and living environment.

Writing

(a) Copying with understanding at a speed of seven words per minute.

(b) Taking dictation at a speed of five words per minute.

(c) Writing with proper spacing and alignment.

(d) Writing independently short letters and applications and filling in forms of day-to-day use of learners.

Numeracy:-

(a) To read and write 1 to 100 numerals.

(b) Doing simple calculations without fraction involving addition, subtraction upto three digits and multiplication and division by two digits.

(c) Working knowledge of metric units of weights, measures, currency, distance and area and units of times.

(d) Broad idea of proportion and interest (without involving fractions) and their use in working and living conditions.

Present status of the literacy campaign in the State:-

(a) Districts in the environment building phase:-

(1) Hanumangarh (2) Jaisalmer (3) Jhalawar (4) Kota (5) Jaipur

(b) Districts in the teaching learning phase-

(2) Bundi

(3) Chittorgarh

(4) Sawai Madhopur

(5) Nagour

(6) Barmer

(7) Bikaner

(8) Sirohi

(9) Dholpur

(10) Baran

(11) Churu

(12) Dausa

(13) Ganganagar

(14) Jallore

(15) Haunmangarh

(16) Jaisalmer

(17) Jhalawar

(18) Kota

(19) Jaipur

(20) Karan

Districts where the Post Literacy Programme has recently been sanctioned:-

(1) Alwar

(2) Udaipur

(3) Rajasmand

(4) Jhunjhunu

(5) Jodhpur

(6) Bhilwara

(a) Districts in the Post Literacy Phase:

(4) Dungarpur

(5) Sikar

(6) Tonk

(7) Pa;o

(8) Bharatpur

(9) Banswara

(a) Districtin Continuing Education Phase:-

(5) Ajmer

By the end of see, 1997, 28.08 lac persons had already become literate through the literacy campaign. Besides this, the number of those who have completed Primer I and Primer II are 50.41 lacs and 38.45 lacs respectively. Details are at Annexure 'A'.

The share of Government of India in expenditure on the literacy campaign is 67% except in tribal areas where it is 80%.

Evaluation:-

The external evaluation is conducted by an independent agency nominated by the National Literacy Mission for this purpose. Besides this the concurrent evaluation is also carried out y an agency appointed for this purpose by the State Literacy Mission Authority. It is relevent to mention here that no district is now declared totally literate and the result of evaluation is published at the end of campaign.

Major problems in the literacy campaign in Rajasthan:-

1. While efforts are made to make the entire target population literate, the experience has been that only 20to 40 persons actually acquire literacy as per NLM norms.

2. There are a number of areas in the State where adequate number of volunteers for teaching are not available. The problem is more acute with respect to the emale volunteers.

3. The natural calamities have also been responsible for delay in completion of the campaign in time in a few districts.

4. The lack of active and voluntary involvement on the part of other departments of the Government and the elected representatives at various levels also has an adverse effect on the campaingn.

5. The campaign will not able to achieve its objectives unless the universalisation of primary education is also ensured simultaneously. According to 1991 census, over 5 million children in the age group of 6 to 14 were out of school.

6. The campaign is Collector centric and therefore, a lot depends on the involvement and interest of Collectors.

Steps taken by the Department in strengthening the TLC:-

1 Regular monthly review meeting of all ZSS is held at Directorate level.

2 Orientation Programmes for various segments of society including media have been organised.

3 'Akshar Mitra' award has been instituted to encourage and motivate the VTs.

4 'Saksharata Samvad' for Collectors and elected Panchayat Raj representatives was organised at Mussourie in collaborations with NLRC.

5 Quarterly journal 'Akharjot' is being regularly published now.

Summary:-

Though actual literacy skills may be acquired only by 20-40% of the target populations during literacy campaign, yet there is a perceptible change in the thinking and behavioural pattern of neo literates. The ability of understand the causes of their deprivation and to organise to get redressal increases substantially. Similarly the tendency to send children to school, adopt small family norms, use of facilities of PHC have shown significant improvement.