Why in News?
The ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) Programme is in the news because Uttarakhand was officially declared India's sixth fully literate state, after meeting the adult literacy benchmarks prescribed under this initiative.
Overview & Vision
- Full Name: Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
- Alternative Name: Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme - NILP).
- Tagline: "Jan Jan Saakshar" (Education for All).
- Nodal Ministry: Managed by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) under the Union Ministry of Education.
- Timeline & Budget: Approved as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for a five-year period spanning Financial Years 2022 to 2027, with an outlay of ₹1,037.90 crore.
Target Group & National Objective
- Target Audience: Non-literate citizens aged 15 years and above who missed the opportunity for formal schooling.
- Ultimate Goal: To provide functional literacy and life skills to 5 crore learners over five years (averaging 1 crore learners annually).
- Full Literacy Definition: A State or UT is certified "fully literate" under the program when its adult literacy rate touches 95% or higher.
Mode of Implementation
- Volunteerism: Driven completely by community spirit and civic duty (Kartavya Bodh). Volunteers include school/college students, NCC/NSS cadets, civil society members, and homemakers.
- Hybrid & Digital Model: Learning happens through both offline and online modes. Resources are accessed via the DIKSHA Portal and the custom ULLAS Mobile App.
- Multilingual Learning: Textbooks (Primers) like "Ujaas" are printed and distributed in 27 local Indian languages and dialects to guarantee regional inclusivity.
The Five Pillars (Components) of ULLAS
The scheme moves away from simple signature-signing, focusing instead on comprehensive functional capability across five core components:
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: Imparting fundamental reading, writing, and basic mathematical calculations.
- Critical Life Skills: Teaching financial literacy, digital literacy, legal awareness, healthcare, hygiene, and electoral processes.
- Basic Education: Providing institutional equivalency for standard schooling levels (Preparatory: Classes 3–5, Middle: Classes 6–8, and Secondary: Classes 9–12).
- Vocational Skills: Offering skill-development programs through local Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) to aid local employment.
- Continuing Education: Facilitating holistic learning modules in arts, science, culture, sports, and recreation for long-term engagement.
Download Pdf
