Udupi district set to be declared ‘fully literate’
Udupi: Udupi district is all set to be declared a “fully literate” district, marking a major milestone in its adult education drive launched last year, The New Indian Express reported.
According to officials from the Adult Education Office, declarations confirming near-total literacy have already been received from Kapu, Karkala, Hebri, Brahmavara, and Byndoor taluks. Udupi and Kundapur taluks are expected to submit their declarations shortly. Once these are received, the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) will declare Udupi a fully literate district.
As per Central government norms, a region is considered fully literate when it achieves a literacy rate of 95% or above, which is treated as equivalent to 100% literacy.
Udupi district has a total of 158 gram panchayats, all of which have submitted reports indicating near-total literacy. The final step involves consolidation of declarations by taluk panchayat executive officers (EO) and submission to the ZP Chief Executive Officer for official approval.
The achievement follows a focused initiative in which 1,246 illiterate adults were identified and enrolled in special four-month literacy courses. Conducted by the Adult Education Office, the programme used tailored learning materials to impart basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills, with participants assessed at the end of the course.
Officials said the initiative primarily benefited adults and elderly individuals who had missed formal education earlier, helping bridge literacy gaps and improve civic participation at the grassroots level.
District Adult Education Officer Yoganarasimha Swamy K M said specially designed textbooks, ‘Balige Belaku’ and ‘Savi Baraha’, which were specially designed for educating adults, were used to ensure the district becomes fully literate.
Officials said that about eight months ago, 45 out of 158 gram panchayats were yet to achieve full literacy, making the current progress a significant accomplishment.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
