Pune: Pune district is showing a concerning lack of interest in the state's Literacy Campaign, which aims to eradicate illiteracy.

For the 2024-25 period, Pune district was tasked with educating 38,038 illiterate residents. However, as of August 8, a mere 63 people have been registered for the program, with only 22 volunteers out of the necessary 3,808 signing up to teach them.

The Literacy Campaign has been in operation since 2023-24 under the state’s Directorate of Education. The 2011 census revealed that Maharashtra has 16.3 million illiterates, with Pune district contributing the highest number at 1.067 million.

Last year, Pune district fell short of its target, registering only 12,684 out of 63,950 intended participants. Out of these, 9,807 appeared for the literacy exam, and 9,042 passed. Despite this shortfall, a new target has been set, but the response so far has been disappointingly low.

Rajesh Kshirsagar, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Education, emphasized that literacy encompasses more than just the ability to read, write, and understand numbers.

The campaign aims to equip new literates with essential life skills, necessitating widespread awareness and promotion to engage more participants.

Festival Boost for Awareness

In a bid to increase engagement, the Directorate of Education has utilized the Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage to promote literacy through the 'Wari for Literacy' initiative.

Building on this, Director Dr. Mahesh Palkar has urged district collectors to use upcoming Ganeshotsav and Navratri festivals as platforms for raising awareness about the Literacy Campaign.

Following these instructions, Pune District Collector Suhas Divase has taken proactive steps, instructing local municipal corporations, the Zilla Parishad CEO, and all Tehsildars to leverage festival committees to promote the literacy program during these significant cultural events.