Government targets 100 percent literacy by 2013

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said the state government has set a target of making 1.8 crore people become literate in the next two years and achieve 100 per cent literacy in Andhra Pradesh.Participating as the chief guest at the International Literacy Day celebrations organised by the Education department and Saakshara Bharat at the Lalitha Kala Thoranam said there was a need for every women to become literate for uplift of their family. “Educated women are a benefit not only to their family but also to the society.Besides economic empowerment, education is a must for all sections.Education has the power to take one ahead irrespective of their caste, creed and religion,” he observed.The chief minister directed departments concerned like Education, Labour, Rural Development and Indira Kranthi Patham groups to work together to reach the goal of 100 per cent literacy.On this occasion, he interacted with rural women who have started learning.Gowramma of Vizianagaram district said people have started giving respect and she was able to sign and count money since the last few weeks.Renukamma from Anantapur claimed her children have been teaching her for the last few months and she could now sign and write her name.Rural development minister D Manikya Varaprasad asserted they would play an active role in the government’s mission to achieve 100 percent literacy. Literate people will lead to the state’s prosperity, he noted.Primary education minister S Sailajanath, MLCs PV Ranga Rao, B Mohan Reddy and others also spoke.About 2,500 school children from across the state attended the programme