ABSTRACT
Soon after independence in 1947, the Government of India had the challenge of bringing uniformity in educational systems and providing education to large segments of the population. The education system was marked with regional imbalances. In 1947, the literacy rate in India was 14 per cent while female literacy was very low (8 per cent). There were around 20 universities and 500 colleges. To address to the issue of illiteracy among adults, some of the initiatives undertaken were as follows (Government of India, 2008):
Social education (taken up in the First Five Year Plan 1951–1956) for providing literacy, extension, general education, leadership training, and social consciousness.
Gram Shikshan Mohim (1959), for providing basic literacy skills to rural people in the State of Maharashtra.
Farmer's Functional Literacy Project (FFLP; 1967–68) targeted at popularisation of high-yielding varieties of seeds.
Nonformal education (NFE; 1974–1979) for people in the age group of 15 to 25 years.
National Adult Education Programme (NAEP; 1978) to eradicate illiteracy.
National Policy on Education (1986) and the Revised Plan of Action (1992).
National Literacy Mission (1988), as a Technology Mission to impart functional literacy.
