Dehradun: Uttarakhand has achieved a major milestone by becoming a fully literate state. Following Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, Uttarakhand has joined the list as India’s sixth fully literate state. To mark this achievement, a special ceremony was organized on Tuesday at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan located in the Chief Minister’s Camp Office. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the event and felicitated new literates who successfully cleared the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) examinations.
Congratulating the citizens on this milestone, the Chief Minister remarked that becoming a fully literate state is a matter of immense pride for every resident. He stated that this achievement is the collective result of the hard work and active participation of teachers, students, newly literate individuals, volunteers, and all campaign stakeholders. Achieving this target in a state characterized by challenging mountainous terrain and remote regions reflects the strong determination of its people.
CM Dhami noted that the state accomplished this under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. He emphasized that literacy today is no longer confined to basic reading, writing, or signing one’s name; in modern times, it encompasses an understanding of rights and duties, digital and financial literacy, and essential life skills.
Viewing Full Literacy as a New Beginning
The Chief Minister stressed that full literacy must be seen not as a final destination, but as a new starting point. Future efforts will focus on expanding digital literacy, financial awareness, health education, and life skills to every citizen. He reaffirmed that the government will continue its efforts to ensure every individual stays pace with evolving technology to improve their daily life.
He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuous efforts are being made to render education inclusive and modern. An educated individual transforms not only their own life, but contributes to the progress of their family, society, and the nation.
Major Educational Welfare Schemes Highlighted
CM Dhami outlined key state initiatives aimed at boosting education quality and holistic student development:
Nanda Gaura Yojana: Providing financial incentives to eligible female students.
- Virtual Classrooms: Setup of virtual classrooms and central studios across 500 schools.
- Atal Utkrisht Vidyalayas: Operational status of 189 model schools.
- Mukhya Mantri Bal Aashray Yojana: Ensuring free education for orphaned children.
- Modern Laboratories: Development of modern science labs in 100 high schools and 100 intermediate schools.
Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat stated that nearly 25,000 volunteers contributed significantly to helping Uttarakhand achieve full literacy. He announced an ambitious target to make the state 100% literate over the next six months. He also highlighted that Uttarakhand is moving rapidly toward achieving the national goal of reaching a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education by 2035.
Reaffirming the state’s policy, Dhan Singh Rawat assured that the government is committed to ensuring education reaches every single child—promising that no school will be closed down as long as even one student is enrolled.
The event was attended by MLA Savita Kapoor, Additional Secretary (Government of India) Archana Sharma Awasthi, Education Secretary Jyoti Yadav, Additional Secretary Namami Bansal, alongside other key officials.
