<div>Neo-literates, including elderly women, spoke on Monday of how their lives had been transformed by the neo-literacy groups and literacy movement. <br /><br />The programme was organised by the Jana Shikshana Trust, Grama Vikasa Kendra, Apnadesh, Selco Foundation, Sugrama Sangha, Panchayat Raj institutions to mark the district-level Aksharotsava and inauguration of solar resource centre at Navachethana Jeevana Shikshana Kendra at Mudipu on the outskirts of Mangaluru. <br /><br />The literacy movement, which Yashoda from Laila in Belthangady taluk had joined, helped her to rid her husband of his alcohol addiction. She said when she joined the neo-literacy movement in 1990, she was not educated. “But now I have learned, and I stand on my own feet,” she said and added that she has served as motivator at the Continual Education Centre. She had helped at least 162 persons get rid of their alcohol addiction by enrolling them to de-addiction centres. <br /><br />Pathunhi from Moodushedde said, being a Muslim woman, she had studied only up to fourth standard and was living within the four walls of her house. However, the literacy movement in the district transformed her. “I have started self help groups and helped women become empowered by giving them training in self-employment.”<br /><br />Sumathi of Ilanthila has contributed to the empowerment of women. The process of learning through literacy movement exposed her to the outside world. She has been creating awareness on solar energy and has been motivating her neighbours to go for solar energy in their houses. <br /><br />At the district-level Aksharotsava, representatives of 10 gram panchayats in DK – Meramajalu, Talapady, Moodushedde, Nellikaru, Manjanady, Belandooru, Arala, Naravi, Balepuni and Laila, who were also part of Sugrama, an association of elected women representatives – resolved to make their gram panchayats free of plastic menace by creating awareness among the villagers in the next one year. <br /><br />The NSS students of University College, Mangaluru, said that they will free their college campus from plastic menace in the next three months. <br /><br />Jana Shikshana Trust director Sheena Shetty said that there is a need to implement the state government’s guidelines of a ban on plastic effectively. In spite of the ban, the use of plastic carry bags, buntings has not been stopped so far. There is a need to maintain cleanliness in our surroundings. <br /><br />Prema of Alankar gave an account of how she created awareness among the members in her neighbourhood on the ill-effects of plastics. <br /><br />Bantwal Taluk Panchayat president Chadrahas Karkera, Guruprakash of Selco, ZP member Mamatha Gatti, tribal leader Kamala, Mangaluru Press Club president Ronald Anil Fernandes and Udupi information officer Rohini were present. <br /><br /></div>
<div>Neo-literates, including elderly women, spoke on Monday of how their lives had been transformed by the neo-literacy groups and literacy movement. <br /><br />The programme was organised by the Jana Shikshana Trust, Grama Vikasa Kendra, Apnadesh, Selco Foundation, Sugrama Sangha, Panchayat Raj institutions to mark the district-level Aksharotsava and inauguration of solar resource centre at Navachethana Jeevana Shikshana Kendra at Mudipu on the outskirts of Mangaluru. <br /><br />The literacy movement, which Yashoda from Laila in Belthangady taluk had joined, helped her to rid her husband of his alcohol addiction. She said when she joined the neo-literacy movement in 1990, she was not educated. “But now I have learned, and I stand on my own feet,” she said and added that she has served as motivator at the Continual Education Centre. She had helped at least 162 persons get rid of their alcohol addiction by enrolling them to de-addiction centres. <br /><br />Pathunhi from Moodushedde said, being a Muslim woman, she had studied only up to fourth standard and was living within the four walls of her house. However, the literacy movement in the district transformed her. “I have started self help groups and helped women become empowered by giving them training in self-employment.”<br /><br />Sumathi of Ilanthila has contributed to the empowerment of women. The process of learning through literacy movement exposed her to the outside world. She has been creating awareness on solar energy and has been motivating her neighbours to go for solar energy in their houses. <br /><br />At the district-level Aksharotsava, representatives of 10 gram panchayats in DK – Meramajalu, Talapady, Moodushedde, Nellikaru, Manjanady, Belandooru, Arala, Naravi, Balepuni and Laila, who were also part of Sugrama, an association of elected women representatives – resolved to make their gram panchayats free of plastic menace by creating awareness among the villagers in the next one year. <br /><br />The NSS students of University College, Mangaluru, said that they will free their college campus from plastic menace in the next three months. <br /><br />Jana Shikshana Trust director Sheena Shetty said that there is a need to implement the state government’s guidelines of a ban on plastic effectively. In spite of the ban, the use of plastic carry bags, buntings has not been stopped so far. There is a need to maintain cleanliness in our surroundings. <br /><br />Prema of Alankar gave an account of how she created awareness among the members in her neighbourhood on the ill-effects of plastics. <br /><br />Bantwal Taluk Panchayat president Chadrahas Karkera, Guruprakash of Selco, ZP member Mamatha Gatti, tribal leader Kamala, Mangaluru Press Club president Ronald Anil Fernandes and Udupi information officer Rohini were present. <br /><br /></div>
