Himachal Pradesh Joins Mizoram, Goa, Tripura in Achieving the National Milestone under ULLAS Scheme.

On the occasion of International Literacy Day, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu officially declared the state as “fully literate,” citing a remarkable literacy rate of 99.3%, surpassing the national benchmark of 95%. The announcement was made during an event organised by the Directorate of School Education in Shimla.

With this milestone, Himachal Pradesh has become the fourth state in India to achieve full literacy status under the Ullas (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) scheme, a central government initiative launched in 2022 to improve adult literacy for individuals above 15 years of age.

A Journey from 7% to 99.3%

Reflecting on the state’s progress, CM Sukhu highlighted the transformation from a mere 7% literacy rate at the time of Independence to nearly universal literacy today. “This journey has been full of challenges but guided by a continuous focus on quality education,” he said. Sukhu also emphasised the importance of modernising education through ongoing reforms to meet future needs.

Himachal Leads in Student-Teacher Ratio

The Chief Minister added that Himachal now ranks first in the country in terms of student-teacher ratio, a critical factor in ensuring effective education delivery. Education Minister Rohit Thakur called the achievement a “golden chapter” in the state’s history, recalling that Himachal was once among the least literate states post-Independence. He noted that the dropout rate has now declined to nearly zero.

Role of ULLAS Scheme and Community Participation

The ULLAS programme, with an outlay of ₹1,037.9 crore, has helped over 29.7 million learners through its hybrid and volunteer-driven approach. It uses in-person training and digital platforms across 26 Indian languages, offering literacy and basic numeracy skills.

State Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar said Himachal had successfully met all ULLAS criteria for full literacy. He also credited the contributions of women’s groups, youth clubs, NGOs, and volunteers for helping achieve the target.

Other Fully Literate States and UTs

Earlier this year, Mizoram (98.2%), Goa (100%), and Tripura (95.6%) were declared fully literate states. In June 2024, Ladakh became the first Union Territory to reach full literacy status with a 97% rate.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his address, noted that India’s literacy rate rose from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023-24, but emphasized that the real goal is to make literacy a lived reality for every citizen.

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