A two-day Ulas Mela was organized on 6 and 7 February under the aegis of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India and National Literacy Center Cell, NCERT, New Delhi.
In this joyous fair, on behalf of Chhattisgarh state, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and State Literacy Mission Authority Director Rajendra Kumar Katara, Assistant Director and Nodal Officer of State Literacy Mission Prashant Kumar Pandey, SCERT State Literacy Center in-charge Dekeshwar Prasad. Verma represented the state of Chhattisgarh.
On behalf of the state, Nodal Officer Prashant Kumar Pandey gave power about the biggest challenge of the literacy program, how to bring the students to the classroom, how to teach them and how to maintain their continuous attendance and the special strategy and best practices being done in the state. Gave a point presentation. Chhattisgarh’s presentation was appreciated by other states.
The Ulas Mela was inaugurated by Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan visited the stalls of other states including Chhattisgarh. In this two-day workshop, Secretary of School Education and Literacy Department Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department Atul Kumar Tiwari, Additional Secretary Vipin Kumar, Joint Secretary of DOASEL Ms. Archana Sharma Awasthi, Director National Literacy Mission Dr. Preeti Meena, NCERT. Director Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Professor Usha Sharma, in-charge of National Literacy Center and other dignitaries were present.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that if school students make an illiterate literate then he will get credit. Students must make at least one person around them literate. A mass movement campaign will have to be created for 100 percent literacy rate. Along with literacy, such people are also being made proficient in 21st class skills like online transactions, filling forms and signing. Addressing the students, he said that 100 percent literacy is the most important pillar of developed India, hence it is necessary to make everyone literate. Regarding getting education, they should be made proficient in basic literacy and numeracy as well as subjects related to general needs so that they can move ahead in life. Students can join this campaign and earn credit points by helping others become literate under the new credit architecture. Therefore, the method of teaching and learning has to be made simple and entertaining. The goal of complete literacy can be achieved only through a knowledge distribution system based on sports and things related to daily work.
On this occasion, Union Minister Pradhan said that in 76 years of independence, literacy has increased from 20 percent to about 80 percent. He further said that Ullas is spreading colors in the lives of those who can avail the benefits of education. He said that sincere efforts should be made to design the teaching methodology based on the choice and need of the learners. The goal of complete literacy can be achieved only through a knowledge delivery system based on sports, folk languages and things related to daily work. Union Minister Pradhan appreciated the efforts of states that have adopted a model that is game-based to make learning simple and fun. He also suggested organizing a seven-day workshop of experts to develop resource material like handbooks, digital capsules etc. and link it to skills.
At the Ullas Mela programme, Union Minister of State Smt. Annapurna Devi congratulated the neo-literates and volunteers for their efforts and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for envisioning NEP-2020 and making budget provision for adult literacy programmes. He appealed to everyone to participate in the literacy mission and come forward to fulfill the Prime Minister’s resolve of a developed India.
During this, all the dignitaries present visited the exhibition stalls displaying resource materials developed by CNCL, NCERT and all the states and union territories.