‘Vidya daana’ is the noblest service one can render. Education is necessary to live independently and hence even the poor must not be deprived of education, said Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat President Sushma Janardhan.

Speaking at the International Literacy Day celebration organised under the aegis of DK Zilla Panchayat, Loka Shikshana department and Mangalore Taluk Panchayat at Scouts Bhavan here on Wednesday, she said DK district enjoys 80 per cent literacy rate. However, efforts must continue through Literacy Mission to reach 100 per cent literacy rate in the district. Motivators of Literacy Mission are rendering excellent service in this direction and hence injustice must not be meted out to them. Only when a person is literate, he or she will be interested in learning further, she explained.

DK Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said, where education is widespread, people will be vigilant.

Though the literacy rate in the district is just over 80 per cent, the fighure is much less in the State. Everyone must support and participate in the government programme to attain cent per cent literacy, he added.

DIET lecturer Shivprakash speaking after a discussion with co-ordinators and nodal motivators of Literacy Mission said the continuing education programme is still alive and there is a need to rejuvenate the programme through providing funds and maintaining continuity of the programme.

On the other hand, the motivators complained that the electricity bills and paper bills of continuing education centres have not been paid and they are being harassed for payments. Other co-ordinators expressed hope that the programmes must continue uninterrupted. 

DEd College Principal Philomena Lobo, TP members Shekhar Shetty and Vajrakshi and Kodandaramaiah of Public Instructions Department were present.