To educate an uneducated is a sacred duty: Naidu

New Delhi, Sep 8: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today called for collective efforts of everyone to make the society literate and said it a sacred duty of a citizen to educate an uneducated. Mr Naidu, giving awards on the 51st International Literacy Day at Vigyan Bhavan here, said, “It is the duty of everyone of us to educate an uneducated. At the time of Independence, the literacy rate was 18 per cent and now it is 74 per cent. It is a challenge to achieve 100 per cent literacy rate by 2022. Country cannot move forward unless we have literate population.” Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Bihar were awarded under state-level Literacy Mission for their efforts in promoting literacy among SC/ST people, tribal and women empowerment at zila and district level, he added. The Vice-President, congratulating the winners said these awards should become an inspiration for others. “A literate person can fight against corruption, injustice, poverty, infant mortality and gender inequality. It is an aim to achieve youth & adult literacy under the goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” UNI