Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Chandigarh has achieved an impressive milestone in education, recording a literacy rate of 99.93 percent and effectively reaching the status of a fully literate Union Territory. The achievement was marked with a special felicitation programme organised by the local administration to honour individuals who recently gained literacy through government initiatives.
The event, organised under the ULLAS campaign, celebrated newly literate citizens in a ceremony titled Nav Saksharon Ka Alankaran Samaroh. Participants who successfully completed the literacy programme were recognised for their efforts in overcoming educational barriers and acquiring reading and writing skills.
The ceremony was attended by Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, who commended the efforts of the administration, educators and volunteers who contributed to the programme. H. Rajesh Prasad, Chief Secretary of the Union Territory, was also present at the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Kataria described the development as a major step forward for the city’s education sector. He noted that the initiative helped Chandigarh exceed the 95 percent literacy target outlined in the National Education Policy 2020. With this accomplishment, Chandigarh has joined a select group of states and Union Territories in India that have reached near-universal literacy.
Officials said the programme saw participation from more than 15,000 residents, out of which over 14,700 successfully cleared the literacy assessment. The initiative not only focused on basic reading and writing skills but also introduced participants to digital literacy, enabling them to better engage with modern technology and services.
A notable outcome of the programme has been the improvement in women’s education. Female literacy in Chandigarh rose significantly from 90.7 percent to nearly 99.9 percent, reflecting the impact of targeted efforts to bring more women into the learning process.
Authorities credited the achievement to the combined contributions of teachers, volunteers, community groups, non-governmental organisations and officials of the Chandigarh Administration, who worked together to reach people who had previously missed formal schooling.
The governor emphasised that literacy is only the beginning of a lifelong learning journey and encouraged citizens to continue improving their knowledge and skills. He added that strengthening education and awareness will be crucial for building a progressive and knowledge-based society in the years ahead.
The programme was also attended by senior education officials including Prerna Puri, Secretary (Education), Nitish Singla, Director School Education, and Surender Singh Dahiya, Director of SCERT Chandigarh, along with newly literate participants who were felicitated during the event.
