Chandigarh has reached a significant milestone with a literacy rate of 99.93%, officially becoming a fully literate Union Territory. The Education Department of the Chandigarh Administration recently organized a felicitation ceremony to honor newly literate individuals. The event, named ULLAS-Nav-Saksharon ka Alankaran Samaroh, was graced by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria as the Chief Guest.
The ceremony aimed to acknowledge the efforts of the illiterate and underscored the importance of education in fostering an empowered society. Governor Kataria lauded this achievement as a historic moment for Chandigarh, surpassing the 95% literacy benchmark set by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Chandigarh now stands as the sixth state or UT in India and the second UT to achieve full literacy.
Governor Kataria revealed that Chandigarh’s literacy rate surged from 93.7% to 99.93%, with 15,556 residents participating in the program and 14,711 successfully passing the literacy assessment. Notably, there was a remarkable increase in women’s literacy from 90.7% to 99.89%, marking a significant stride towards women’s empowerment. The Governor attributed this success to the collaborative efforts of the Chandigarh administration, the Education Department, teachers, volunteers, NGOs, and social organizations who diligently reached out to non-literate citizens.
Highlighting the importance of literacy as the foundation of lifelong learning, Governor Kataria emphasized the pivotal role of education in realizing the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He encouraged residents to continue their educational journey and contribute to shaping a knowledge-driven, progressive society.
