The first six-year Plan proposed a program for adult literacy every year through the programme
The first six-year Plan proposed a program for adult literacy every year through the programme
Options:
(a) Urban and Rural Development (URD)
(b) Village and Cities Development (VCD)
(c) Village Agricultural and Industrial Development (V-AID)
(d) None
✅ Correct Option: (c) Village Agricultural and Industrial Development (V-AID)
Explanation (200+ words):
The first six-year Plan (1951–57) proposed a program for adult literacy through the Village Agricultural and Industrial Development (V-AID) program. V-AID aimed to improve literacy alongside practical agricultural and industrial skills, targeting rural populations. The rationale was that literacy would be most effective if integrated with vocational and livelihood training, ensuring adults could immediately benefit socially and economically from education.
V-AID centers focused on reading, writing, numeracy, basic health, and agricultural knowledge. The program also intended to reduce rural poverty by combining literacy with skill development, making it a holistic model of education and development. Although ambitious, the program faced challenges like lack of trained instructors, insufficient funds, and weak administrative coordination, which limited its nationwide impact.
This initiative was significant because it highlighted non-formal education as a complement to formal schooling. It laid the foundation for later adult literacy programs, including the National Literacy Plan of 1983–88, and was considered a pioneering approach linking education with practical socioeconomic development.
10 PPSC Facts:
- Adult literacy program = V-AID.
- Focused on rural populations.
- Combined literacy with agricultural and industrial skills.
- Initiated during 1951–57 six-year plan.
- Centers taught reading, writing, and numeracy.
- Included basic health and hygiene education.
- Aimed to reduce rural poverty.
- Linked literacy to vocational skills.
- Implementation limited due to funding and staff shortage.
- Served as a model for later literacy programs.