Literacy in Koraput

KORAPUT: Neither International Literacy Day observed on Saturday northe Total Literacy Campaign(TLC) or the Post Literacy Programme(PLP)had no meaning for Moti Kirsani of Ganjeipadar village in BadaKerenga panchayat of Koraput block. She could not find the reason forlearning her signature , as she was yet to get an opportunity evento put her thumb impression on some document . In her 80 years'life in the village she had seen some people putting their thumbimpression on some thing or the other and had a strong desire to puthers all these years. But without a job card , rice card , BPL cardor old age pension in her hand there was no opportunity for her toput her signature or thumb impression , she said .However for Bati Badnayak , president of Maa Mangala SHG in thevillage the story has changed now .Just one month back she wasequally ignorant on the knowledge of letters and the kingdom of words. But now She can put her signature and recognize some words . Thanksto her son Sadhu Badnayak who reads in Std.IV at the village school. Sadhu has been teaching her for the last one month and has a hopethat within next few months she could read books and maintain accountbooks of her SHG .But everyone in the village do not have Sadhu as sons , she added.Even though many of the villagers had learnt to put their signatureover the years , it was difficult for them to come out of the habitof putting thumb impressions , she said . Most of the villagerspreferred to put their thumb impression for the fear of losing theirsignature to some one else , she added .While stories like this continue to hit the stands all over the
yet another Literacy Day at Koraput on Saturday with statistics of successes and challenges in their hand . According to the official sources a total of 1.8 Lakh learners were turned literate in district to cross TLC and PLP to enter the Continued Education Programme(CEP) by spending Rs.5 Cr. over the last 15 years since its beginning in 1993 . If granted , the mission will carry out CEP with its 219 centers in the district , official sources said.