Udupi district in coastal Karnataka received official recognition as a fully literate district from the state government after confirming that more than 95 per cent of its population can read and write.
The declaration follows the implementation of central government guidelines across all 155 gram panchayats, seven taluk panchayats and eight urban local bodies in the district. Under the direction of the District Panchayat chief executive officer, the literacy programme adhered to the standards set by the central authority and secured the required verification.
Shubhamangal R.V., appointed as the government under‑secretary (project) and special officer of the School Education and Literacy Department, issued the formal order permitting the district to be labelled fully literate. The CEO, Prateek Boil, submitted the proposal after the 2021‑2022 Navbharat Literacy Programme identified 5,885 learners. Field workers and teachers delivered at least 200 hours of training covering basic reading, writing, arithmetic and life skills before administering a competency test.
Because the district surpassed the 95 per cent threshold, officials plan to announce the status for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year. The state order also outlines conditions that the District Panchayat must observe, including a re‑verification of the 2011 literacy data against subsequent programme outcomes to ensure the figure remains above the required level.
Once the data is validated, the declaration will be scheduled on a nationally significant day such as Independence Day or Kannada Rajyotsava, after consultation with the district minister. On that day, representatives, ministers, legislators and senior officials will gather for a public ceremony, and the process will be documented for dissemination on the district website and social media platforms.
Even after the district attains the fully literate label, the administration has been instructed to continue outreach for remaining illiterate residents, provide practice sessions for new learners and extend literacy services to migrants arriving in the area.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi