It is questionable to showcase growth of literacy in itself, as a great achievement. Just as administering polio drops cannot take care of a child’s nutritional needs, so also literacy alone cannot be taken care of the developmental needs of a person. Literacy should not be seen as an end in itself, rather than a means to an end. In fact, not only literacy, but also numeracy, should be seen as a means of helping people getting educated. Even a child who drops out of primary school can be considered literate, but if he or she is burdened with menial jobs, then it is a complete waste. Hopefully, the Right to Education Act will augment the improved literacy levels to help us realise our true potential. In the modern world, education, rather than literacy should be taken as a census benchmark.
