As many as 16,984 illiterate people aged above 15 years have been identified by the directorate of non-formal and adult Education inMaduraito learn basic alphabetical and numerical skills under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP). The programme aims to equip those who have not undergone formal education, especially adults, to become more independent by helping them read, write and calculate.
District education department officials said that the 16,984 people will undergo classes at 934 Learning centres across the district. NILP is sponsored mainly by the central government with the support of the . Last year, as many as 18,762 people above 15 years underwent NILP and benefited, which was more than the target. We encourage as many people as possible who are illiterate to join NILP and come out of their fear of not knowing basic literacy and numeracy, said an official.
The beneficiaries were selected by tracing those using thumb prints instead of signatures at places like ration shops or those enrolled in MGNREGA scheme. NILP offers a chance for those who could not get formal education to acquire skills that would help them make day-to-day life easier. Even filling up forms or reading signs on their own would make a major difference in their lives.