‘Over 11 lakh people in UP became literate in four years’

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh govt’s Nav Bharat Literacy Programme has benefited more than 11.68 lakh people in the last four years.Implemented under the centrally sponsored Nav Bharat Saksharta Abhiyan, the programme is aimed at eliminating illiteracy by making individuals above 15 years read, write and attain numeracy skills, while also equipping them with practical knowledge for daily life.The campaign relies on a network of trained volunteers and master trainers. Volunteers, after receiving specialised training, conduct literacy classes in both online and offline modes across districts. These efforts have instilled confidence among neo-literates and expanded the programme’s outreach, officials said.So far, seven literacy assessment examinations have been conducted, with a total of 13.8 lakh participants. Of these, 11.6 lakh were declared successful. Over the years, the figures have gone up — from 1.4 lakh in 2022-23 to more than 4 lakh in 2025-26.Looking ahead, the state govt plans to make the programme more comprehensive this year by assigning district-level targets, enhancing training frameworks and conducting biannual assessments.