Opinion | ULLAS, NILP, Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakramme-New Hope For Non-Literates.

Government of India has approved a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakramme for the Period Financial Year 2022-2027 to Cover All the aspects of Education For All (Erstwhile Termed as Adult Education) to align with National Education Policy 2020.
The ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) Initiative Fosters a Learning Ecosystem that reaches Every Individual, Bridging the gaps in Basic Literacy and Critical Lifeskills. It imparts Basic Education, Digital and Financial Literacy and Critical Life Skills to Citizens aged 15 and above Who lost an Opportunity to go to School. It is being Implemented through Volunteer Teachers.
Objectives
The Objectives of the Scheme is to Impart not only Foundational Literacy and Numeracy but also to cover other Components Which are Necessary for a Citizen of 21st century such as Critical Life Skills (including financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare); Vocational Skills Development (with a view Towards Obtaining Local Employment); Basic Education (Including Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary Stage Equivalency) and Continuing Education (Oncluding Engaging Holistic Adult Education Courses in Arts, Sciences, Technology, Culture, Sports, and Recreation, as well as other Topics of Interest or use to Local Learners, Such as more advanced Material on Critical Life Skills).
Scheme Implementation
The Scheme will be Implemented through Volunteer Teachers through Online and Offline Mode. Trainings, Orientations, Workshops of Volunteers Will be Organized through Face-to-Face Mode. All material and resources Shall be provided digitally for easy access to registered volunteers through easily accessible digital modes, viz, TV, Radio, Cell Phone-Based Free/Open-Source Apps/Portals, etc.
The Scheme will cover Non-Literates of the age group of 15 years and above in all state/UTs in the country.
The Target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for Financial Year 2022-2027 is 5 (five) crore Learners @ 1.00 Crore Learners Per Year by using “Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS)” in collaboration with NIC, NCERT and NIOS in Which a Learner may register him/herself with Essential Information Like Name, Date Of Birth, Gender, Aadhaar Number (Optional), Mobile Number etc. For Online Teaching Learning and Assessment.
Salient Features Of The Scheme
School will be Unit for Implementation of the Scheme.
Schools to be used for conducting Survey of Beneficiaries and Volunteers.
Different strategies are to be adopted for different age cohorts. Flexibility for States/UTs will be provided to undertake innovative activities.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will be imparted through Critical Life Skills to all Non-Literates in the age Group of 15 Years and above.
Use of Technologies to Impart Adult Education for Wider Coverage of the Scheme.
Performance Grading Index (PGI) for state/UT and district level will show the performance of States and UTs to implement the scheme and achievements on a yearly basis by weighing both the physical and financial progress through UDISE portal.
CSR/Philanthropic Support may be received by hosting ICT Support, Providing Volunteer Support, Opening Facilitation Centres for Learners and for Providing IT Access to Economically Weaker Learners in the form of Cell Phones.
The Age Group of 15-35 Will be Saturated first followed by Ages 35 and above. Priority Will be given in terms of Categories to the Girls and Women, SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, Persons with Special Needs (Divyangjans), Marginalized/ Nomadic/ Construction Workers/ Labourers/etc. Who can Substantially and immediately benefit from Adult Education.
Convergence with Ministries/Departments for effective Implementation of the Scheme.
ULLAS as Janandolan with an objective of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Participation of about 3 Crore Students/Children of around 7 Lakh Schools Registered under UDISE along with about 50 Lakh Teachers of Government, Aided and Private Schools
An Estimated 20 Lakh Students from Teacher Education and Higher Education Institutions Will be actively involved.
Support Will be garnered from PRIs, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA Workers and An Estimated 50 Lakh NYSK, NSS and NCC Volunteers.
There Will be Involvement of Community, Participation of Philanthropic/CSR Organizations through Volunteerism and through Vidyanjali Portal.
State/UTs Will Promote Individual/ Family/ Village/ District Success Stories through Various Platforms.
It will utilize all types of Media–Electronic, Print, Folk & Inter-Personal Platforms including Social Media Platforms Like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TV Channels, Radio, etc.
Assessment of Literacy will be conducted in Local Schools using Scientific Format to Capture the Real-Life Learning and Skills for Functional Literacy. Assessment on demand will also be made through OTLAS and E-Certificate Kointly E-Signed by NIOS and NLMA will be issued to the Learner.
Annual Achievement Survey of Learning Outcomes by Samples of 500-1000 Randomly Selected Learners from Each State/UT and Outcome-Output Monitoring Framework (OOMF).
All Efforts to Implement this Scheme in Our Zone Boniyar Like the Whole Country Were Successful.During Survey 6767 Non-Literates has been Identified and Registered on ULLAS App.276 Volunteer Teachers has been Registered on ULLAS App also.Three Days Trainings of these Volunteer Teachers has Conduted at Govt. Girls Middle School Boniyar Under the Dynamic Officer Chief Education Officer Baramulla and Zonal Education Boniyar Mr. Abdul Rehman Lone .We All as Responsible Citizens Should Join Hands in this Mission for the Benefit of Society. It is an opportunity for Literates to Serve Society.In Zone Boniyar almos about More than Ten Centres fully functional where Volunteer Teachers utilize their Servi.
(Writer is a Columnist and a Teacher By Profession and Can be Contacted on mukhtar.qur@gmail.com)