Complete literacy for Wayanad’s Adivasis: Kerala govt aims at 90% literacy for Adivasis in 6 months

Kerala government intends to increase the literacy rate amongst Adivasis in the Wayanad district as part of the ‘Wayanad Complete Tribal Literacy Project’, with the aim to reach “complete literacy”. Under this project, some volunteers led a survey, reported The Wire. Across Wayanad, roughly 3,000 volunteers and officials partook in the survey. This team included not only students but also, tribal promoters, members of Kudumbasree, panchayat level coordinators, elected representatives and officials from the state literacy mission and other departments. Kerala State Literacy Mission authority oversees the project which is in its third phase, having already completed two phases since 2017.

Nirmala Rachel Joy told The Wire, that more than 7000 people have been benefited with the project which covered up to 4000 in the initial phase and the rest in the next phase. Nirmala joined the mission post the winding up of the first phase. Wayanad’s tribal community, which constitutes about 20% of the Wayanad’s population, has literacy rate of about 70%, which is significantly lower than the state’s and Wayanad’s literacy rate.

This divide is what the local authorities are trying to fill, with the help of civilian volunteers. If the present project is able to achieve its target, then Wayanad will be achieving 90% literacy rate among Adivasis within the next six months. The officials think that this model could inspire the whole country, if everything runs smoothly and they achieve their targets.

It was, a productive Sunday for the student volunteer groups which contributed in the survey. One government vehicle ran multiple trips to bring the volunteers to the hamlets at the Meppadi panchayat, reported The Wire.