Centre’s ULLAS to Benefit 12K Illiterate Women from Tirupati District

 Tirupati: Tirupati district authorities are poised to implement the centre’s scheme ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram), also known as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), which focuses on education and empowerment of illiterate women.

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, this centrally sponsored initiative is aimed at eradicating illiteracy among adults aged 15 and above toward enabling them to contribute towards the nation's growth.

District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the District Adult Education Department are the implementing agencies of ULLAS. They have identified 12,085 illiterate women from 33 mandals as beneficiaries under the programme. They include members of women self-help groups, staff of mandal and zilla parishad schools, Anganwadi centres, cooks and other community workers.

A DRDA official said: “Volunteers have been appointed, with one trainer assigned to every 10 women. They will conduct classes at Anganwadi centres, focusing on functional literacy, including reading, writing and numeracy. The women beneficiaries will attend 200 hours of literacy classes over six months.”

The curriculum includes topics, such as family and neighbourhood dynamics, cultural practices, hygiene and health, elections, child-rearing responsibilities, and financial literacy under the theme "Our Family’s Lakshmi." Basic laws, Telugu language and arithmetic skills will also be taught to transform these women into literate individuals.

“ULLAS is a significant step toward empowering women and adults with education, and equipping them with the skills necessary for personal and community development. By bridging the literacy gap, ULLAS will not only empower women but also contribute to the economic progress of their region,” the DRDA official emphasised.

Overall, ULLAS will promote volunteerism and social responsibility. Participants will be encouraged to access educational content in regional languages through DIKSHA portal and ULLAS Mobile App/Portal, thereby fostering lifelong learning.

Classes for the identified illiterate women in Tirupati district will commence shortly at the Anganwadi centres in their respective villages.