Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir has been declared a Fully Literate Union Territory after achieving a literacy rate of 98.43 per cent under the ULLAS–Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (NBSK), Education Minister Sakina Masood Itoo announced on Saturday.
Itoo made the announcement while addressing a Teachers’ Day function at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar), describing the achievement as a significant milestone in Jammu and Kashmir’s education journey.
According to the minister, the Union Territory has now crossed the 95 per cent literacy benchmark prescribed under the ULLAS framework for declaring an area fully literate.
She said Jammu and Kashmir had progressively achieved literacy milestones through district-level declarations, with the remaining areas subsequently brought under the ULLAS programme. The process ultimately culminated in the declaration of the entire Union Territory as fully literate.
Itoo said Jammu and Kashmir now ranks 10th in the country in terms of the achievement.
The minister credited teachers, volunteers, education officers and learners for the success, saying their collective efforts helped take literacy initiatives to communities across Jammu and Kashmir.
The campaign involved extensive door-to-door surveys, community mobilisation and awareness programmes to identify people who had remained outside the formal education system. According to figures from the campaign, more than 7.5 lakh non-literates were identified across the Union Territory.
More than 5.5 lakh learners have successfully qualified through Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Tests (FLNATs) conducted under the programme from time to time.
Earlier figures from the assessment process showed that 1,78,680 out of 1,80,317 identified non-literate learners passed the FLNAT, representing a success rate of 99.09 per cent for that particular assessment cohort.
The ULLAS programme goes beyond basic reading and writing skills. It focuses on foundational literacy and numeracy, critical life skills, basic education, vocational skills and continuing education, with an emphasis on empowering adult learners to participate more effectively in social and economic life.
The initiative also promotes areas such as digital literacy, financial literacy and legal awareness, enabling learners to apply their acquired skills in everyday life.
In a post on X, Itoo termed the declaration a “historic milestone” and said it was a matter of pride for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She also acknowledged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his leadership and commitment towards strengthening education and empowering people.
However, Itoo stressed that achieving Fully Literate UT status should not be treated as the end of the literacy campaign. Instead, she described it as the beginning of a new phase that would require sustained efforts to promote education, equality, dignity, progress and prosperity.
The achievement marks a major milestone for the School Education Department and the ULLAS-NBSK programme in Jammu and Kashmir. The focus now is expected to shift towards consolidating literacy gains, promoting lifelong learning and expanding access to digital, vocational and continuing education opportunities across the Union Territory.
