The first phase of total literacy campaign launched by Sewa Bharati in Delhi to make Delhiites totally literate completed on April 30. This phase had begun on February 1. Under the phase, a total of 10,000 people have been made fully literate. People from all walks of life including scientists, doctors, advocates, etc. joined the campaign and voluntarily taught people in various classes organised mostly in slum areas. A total of 576 literacy centres were set up during the first phase.
Under the second phase, which is scheduled to begin soon, these 10,000 neo-literates will further make at least 10,000 people literate. The cycle will continue until the target of total literacy is not achieved. The Sewa Bharati is also preparing a post-literacy syllabus for the neo-literates so that they do not forget what they have learnt during the campaign.
According to 2001 census, about 20 lakh people are still illiterate in Delhi. The Sewa Bharati has decided to make them all literate. The campaign has been taken up to commemorate the birth-centenary year of Shri Guruji, the second Sarsangha-chalak of RSS.
In contrast to the hugely expensive literacy drives launched by the government agencies from time to time, the Sewa Bharati campaign incurred minimum expenses. The cost of making one person literate is about Rs 42. The Sewa Bharati has adopted a unique method developed by Shri G.P. Jain for literacy drive. The method was tried in several localities of Delhi where it produced remarkable results. This is the largest literacy drive by a non-governmental organisation in Delhi. Besides literacy campaign, the Sewa Bharati also runs1789 service projects in slum areas of Delhi. Through these projects an atmosphere of social harmony has developed in the areas where these projects are being run.
