*** A small district town in India's southern state of Kerala has managed to do what many thought impossible: stamp out illiteracy among its population. In a country where one out of two adults can not read or write, Kottaym has shown that it is possible to give every citizen the right to master the written word, despite reluctant political leaders, initial suspicion among learners and overriding differences of caste, religion, language and political affiliation. latika Padgaonkar reports: ***

KERALA has always been several steps ahead of the rest of the country.

The 1981 census showed its literacy level to be almost 64 per cent; little Kottayam had then already reached an impressive 86 per cent rate of literacy. In June last year.it reached Ils'goal of becoming India's first "Illttcracy-rrcc" town.

Hut literacy Is not the only feature the town can be proud of . With a relatively small population of 68,000 ft has also achieved a low birth rate, low Infant mortality, and conditions of health and hygiene Tar superior to anywhere else in India", accoring to K.J. Alphonse, the dynamic District Collector who organised the literacy campaign with urgency, joy and dedication.

What lies behind this dramatic success? Principally a grbundswcll of popular partic-

ipation, says Alphonse. The story goes back to 1988, when the National Service Scheme of the Mahatma Gandhi University In Kottayam presented a proposal to the Ministry of Human Resources Development to make Kottayam India s first fully literate town. The campaign planner* agreed that reading, writing and arithmetic simply weren't enough: the drive would also include the broader goal of education for all and an Improvement of the overall qual-

ity of life. In fact, the campaign for literacy included themes such as: read more books, green the city, consumer guidance. physical fitness, savings, traffic sense, immunlstation, anti-smoking, drug and alcohol campaign, cancer education, etc.

Launched with a fanfare (flag hoisting, a literacy run, and pulbic pledge), the Kottayam drive had a dual objective: 100 per cent literacy in a record of 100 days targeted at the 6-60 age group, and a better quality of life through a series of fifteen onc-monlh campaigns.

Once the literacy drives various facets--Including resources (mostly In the form of sponsorship), training, and experience-sharing sesslons-werc well on their way. the people of Kottayam responded : With overwhelming enthusi-

asm. So much so that they virtually took the campaign into their own hands.

It became a feverish race Xnst time for the organisers se aim was simple: break the psychological barrier and have people be able to sign their names, write letters, read news papers and calculate. fn short, provide them with the basics for an Independent existence.

"If people can write their names Instead of offering their thumbprints", says Alphonse, "the psychological difference Is tremendous*. "And", quoting a professor from Kottayam, he adds, "the written word makes a great qualitative chavgc in a person's life".

The neighbourhood teachers turned to the willing-learners first The reluctant

ones were visited by volunteers who used friendly per suasion. No medium was left uncovered: dance, drama,

song, folk art. mini camps and newspapers, all hnd their* share in mobilization for this! people's programme.

Owing to the extremely uneven levels of literacy, the. method adopted was "Each one. Teaches one". This meant bringing literacy to over 22 10 Illiterate persons of Kottayam. The campaign had its share of problems. Repeated visits were often ncccssay before tlw Initial suspicion of unwilling learners could be overcome. Provision had to be made for| the linguistic minorities, in particular the Tamil popula tion,

part of which voiced Ils preference for literacy in Tamil rather than Malayalam, the languor rfteraM' f ’ 4

When the drive ended In June last year. Its Impact surpassed all expectation .To start-with, a few key Issues were re-solved: Could all the Illiterates be identified? Was all this fuss necessary in a town which already had a relatively high literacy rate? Woukl the crusade, work In the prevailing political situation? The answers were Yea, Then came the enornjous pride of the town people p-hr» . for once, were both actors and directors in thi* campaign. The community became more, cohesive and concerned with] the well-being and bcliaviour of Its members. The indications of progress were numcropa.-Including rcducecd liquor com, sumption and domestic vlo-llncc, and what Alphonse call* the "triumph of womanhood'.

Kottayam's achieve men I Is < unique one which could not have happened, elsewhere in exactly the same manner. But Il demonstrate* the potential force of voluntary work and popular partfeipuifon ’

—Courtesy : UNESCO