Union Minister Inaugurates ULLAS Mela to Promote Lifelong Learning and Literacy

New Delhi:  Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, will inaugurate the two-day ULLAS Mela on February 6, 2024, at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi. The event aims to showcase various national and state-level activities under the innovative scheme, Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, also known as ULLAS.

The ULLAS scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative of the Government of India, aligns with the goal of achieving 100% literacy by 2030. The program, operating from fiscal years 2022-2027, targets non-literates aged 15 and above, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) alongside critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy, legal literacy, environmental literacy, health, and hygiene.

Implemented in a hybrid mode, ULLAS provides flexibility to states and union territories, allowing them to adopt offline, online, or combined approaches. The scheme consists of five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Encouraging volunteerism and citizen participation, ULLAS emphasizes duty or “Kartavya Bodh” towards nation-building.

The ULLAS Mela will showcase various national and state-level activities, including the felicitation of neo-literates who successfully certified in the Foundational Literacy Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). The event will also witness the launch of the ULLAS Concise Primers in local languages, highlighting the best practices, panel discussions, and the prize distribution for winners of the poster-making competition held during the International Literacy Week.

With the participation of 700 attendees from various states and union territories, along with more than 100 dignitaries from the Ministry of Education, states, union territories, and various organizations, the ULLAS Mela aims to promote the spirit of lifelong learning and literacy across the nation.