Leh, June 25: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), participated in the ULLAS Mela at the Sindhi Sanskriti Kendra (SSK) Leh, declaring Ladakh as a Fully Functional Literate Union Territory. This event, organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with the School Education Department of UT Ladakh, marks a significant milestone in the region’s educational progress.
In pursuit of 100% literacy by 2030, the Government of India launched the Nav Bharat SakshartaKaryakaram (New India Literacy Programme) for the financial years 2022-2027. ULLAS, which stands for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society, embodies the motto “Jan-Jan Sakshar” and targets all non-literates aged 15 and above.
ssCongratulating the new literates and their trainers, LG Mishra hailed the declaration as a landmark achievement. He praised the enthusiasm of elderly learners and the dedication of trainers who facilitated this educational progress. The LG also highlighted the role of the Ministry of Education in elevating Ladakh’s educational standards.
Reaffirming the vision of NEP-2020, LG Mishra emphasized the importance of education as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted improvements such as bi-annual student enrolments and initiatives ensuring no government school in Ladakh is headless, maintaining a balanced student-teacher ratio.
Having achieved full literacy, the LG stressed the need to shift societal focus from seeking government jobs to creating job providers. He encouraged fostering entrepreneurship and start-ups in Ladakh, urging the Ministry of Education to develop comprehensive plans for this shift.
The LG felicitated new literates from Leh and Kargil, released the Annual Report of the School Education Department, and acknowledged contributions from key officials, including Secretary of School Education & Literacy, Sanjay Kumar, IAS, and Principal Secretary of the School Education Department, UT Ladakh, Sanjiv Khirwar, IAS. A film documenting the ULLAS Programme’s journey in Ladakh was also screened.
Earlier in the event, the LG inspected a mobile science lab and various school stalls, engaging with teachers and celebrating the collaborative spirit that has driven Ladakh’s literacy achievements.
The event was attended by prominent figures such as Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon; Advisor to the LG, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Zakir Hussain; ADGP Ladakh, Dr. SD Singh Jamwal, IPS; Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, GoI, Archana Sharma Awasthi, along with officials, teachers, lecturers, and new literates from the region.
