Need to achieve 100% literacy rate in NE, says Reddy

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 25 (EMN): Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), G Kishan Reddy on Saturday stressed on the need for achieving 100% literacy in the Northeastern region and highlighted the role and empowerment of teachers.He was addressing the foundation stone laying programme of In-service Teachers Training cum Examination Centre with residential facilities at Pherima in Medziphema.

The minister stated that 100% literacy rate should be achieved in the region while lamenting that there were still no proper facilities for education in the hilly, remote and rural areas; while some places had only 40% to 50% literacy rate.

He maintained that in the coming days, everyone should take a pledge and take the challenge to achieve 100% literacy rate in the NE region.

Further, he maintained that the ceremony was an important event for the Education department and stated the teachers were the builders of the future and nation.

“It is most felt that it will influence the learning outcomes among the children and the teachers”, he said.

Sharing his delight to be involved in the project, he asserted that the project in Nagaland will serve as a multi-purpose state of the art communication technology, information and communication, teachers training centre with all infrastructure to conduct short duration in-service teachers’ training while also providing various crash course programmes; and as an examination centre.

He stated that the focus of the centre will be to train the teachers so that various modes of learning can be implemented in all the schools.

The minister urged the state government to take it up on priority basis so that it would benefit the teachers and students.

Reddy said after 33 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the New Education Policy (NEP) had been taken up wherein several experts — scientist, teachers, professors, civil society experts were roped in to take inputs for framing the NEP.

Further dwelling on NEP, he informed that priority is being given to the local languages for use even in professional institutions and colleges in order to protect the local culture, tradition, songs and music and the festivals.

Nagaland land of opportunities

Reddy said Nagaland was a ‘land of opportunities’ and urged the people of state to extend cooperation to the administration and officials in all fields.

He asserted that there was a lot of scope in the state and the Northeastern region for development in the tourism sector, however it was neglected due to various issues.

Reddy stated that Prime Minister Modi had asked him to visit the Northeast region and talk to the people, plan for projects, encourage tourism and create employment generation.

He maintained that there were a lot of natural resources to help the local people and create employment.

He also stressed on the need to give importance to education and stated that without proper education, ‘no state, country, family nor individual can be developed’.

According to Reddy, Indian culture gives much reverence to the teachers and considers them as ‘Guru’, philosopher, mentor and guide. He asserted that the benefits which teachers will get from the centre will impact every individual and family, and in this regard he added that priority should be given for the construction of the teachers training centre.

Meanwhile, the minister also urged the district administrations to ensure government’s intervention in rice distribution to every family at subsidised rates and free rice to the BPL families during the pandemic period, LPG and power connection, opening bank accounts and Self Help Groups (SHGs).

He stated that the intervention is to encourage the people in the rural areas. He added that the women SHGs in the state will also be given bank assistance stating that it was recently enhanced to INR 10 lakh and further to INR 20 lakh to increase their livelihood.

He also assured all support to the development of the Northeastern region in coordination with the Government of India and stated that it had sanctioned INR 6,700 crore for NE region development in the existing financial year.

Reddy also stated that the government is working for more train connectivity in the northeast region, air connectivity, tourism connectivity and IT connectivity.

Meanwhile the Minister for Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu in his speech said learning was a continuous process and the project was conceptualised realising that a teacher has to be trained.

He expressed his gratitude to DoNER for considering the proposal to train the ‘Trainer of Trainers’ and appealed to the Union Minister of DoNER for enhancement of the budget, as ‘more work was arising considering the hilly place for land cutting’.

Advisor for School Education, KT Sukhalu in his speech opined that the project would benefit the teachers and students.

Sukhalu said the project initially was for INR 20 crore, however INR 15.5 crore had been sanctioned but the INR 4.5 crore which is supposed to be borne by the state, was another challenge given the pandemic and the resource-crunch state. An appeal was made to sanction the remaining amount.

Advisor of Sericulture, Excise and Minority Affairs, Zhaleo Rio thanked the Ministry for sanctioning the Centre of excellence,a first of its kind in the state and appealed to DoNER ministry for logistical support and timely completion of the project.

Principal Director of School Education, Shanavas C chaired the programme. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. Zhabu Terhuzha and the Union Minister unveiled the plaque in the presence of Neiba Kronu and advisors, DoNER ministry officials, state government officials and public leaders.