Adult literacy initiatives face scrutiny in Maharashtra

Adult literacy programs in Maharashtra are facing contrasting reports regarding their implementation. In Nandurbar, the ‘Ullas’ initiative under the New India Literacy Programme is conducting examinations for 23,839 illiterate citizens across 810 centers. The assessment covers foundational literacy and numeracy, with specific provisions for differently-abled candidates, including extra time.

However, in the Jalna district, questions have been raised regarding the effectiveness of the government's literacy campaign. Reports from areas including Anwa and Bhokardan suggest that the program may be functioning primarily on paper. During recent literacy examinations, allegations surfaced that school-aged students were taking the exams instead of adults, and some registered adult learners claimed they had never received actual instruction despite being enrolled in the program.