The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (September 8, 2014) presented the Saakshar Bharat Awards 2014 at International Literacy Day Celebrations organized by Union Ministry of Human Resource Development at a function at Vigyan Bhavan.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that a literate and educated society is better able to explore its way towards its inclusive economic and social well being through democratic means. Thus it follows that the more literate a society, the greater its overall integration, growth and development. The plan of action for eradication of illiteracy should, therefore, not only focus on the tangible aspects of literacy but also delve into its intangible and intrinsic aspects.

The President said that he was glad to note that the National Literacy Mission has enhanced its focus on female literacy. If the Mission enables the Indian woman to take charge of her life and health and feel more confident in her immediate physical and social environment; if literacy helps her to overcome deprivation, discrimination and injustice, then we can say that an important objective has been achieved. He stressed that the success of our march towards total literacy in India will ultimately depend on two factors. One is meaningful and effective advocacy and secondly, cooperation and support of society at large, to bring non-literates into the mainstream of literacy.

Also present on the occasion was Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Human Resource Development.

This release issued at 1320 hrs.