Ladakh has been officially declared a fully literate Union Territory in India during the ULLAS Mela held at Sindhi Sanskriti Kendra, Leh on June 24. The event, organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in collaboration with the School Education Department of UT Ladakh, was graced by Lieutenant Governor Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd).

To achieve the target of 100% literacy by 2030, the Government of India has launched the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakaram (New India Literacy Programme - NILP) for Financial Years 2022-2027. ULLAS, or Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society, focuses on educating non-literates aged 15 years and above, promoting the motto "Jan-Jan Sakshar."

Lieutenant Governor Mishra congratulated all new literates above 15 years and their trainers, describing Ladakh's achievement as a landmark for the region. He expressed admiration for the enthusiasm shown by older learners and praised the efforts of trainers and the Ministry of Education in enhancing educational standards.

Emphasizing that these initiatives align with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mishra highlighted improvements in enrollment procedures and staffing in Ladakh's schools. He stressed the need to overcome societal barriers towards government jobs, advocating for youth to become job creators and fostering entrepreneurship in Ladakh.

The Lieutenant Governor also acknowledged and honored new literates from Leh and Kargil during the event, alongside the release of the UT Ladakh School Education Department's Annual Report. Secretary Sanjay Kumar, IAS, hailed the day as significant for Ladakh, underscoring the transformative role of literacy and ongoing ministry initiatives to enhance education.

Sanjiv Khairwar, Principal Secretary of the School Education Department, UT Ladakh, highlighted additional measures taken to boost literacy rates. The event included a screening of a documentary chronicling the ULLAS Programme's impact in Ladakh, along with exhibitions from UT Ladakh's schools and interactions with teachers.

In summary, Ladakh's achievement as a fully literate UT reflects substantial progress towards educational empowerment and socio-economic development in the region.