India on International Literacy Year 1990

Education India

September 8, 1990

India on International Literacy Year 1990

A commemorative postage stamp on the International Literacy Year (ILY):

Issued by India

Issued on Sep 8, 1990

Description of Designs : The stamp is based on art work supplied by Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Two Colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un W/M Adhesive Gravure Coated stamp paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About :

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 1990 as the International Literacy Year (ILY) and has invited UNESCO to assume the role of lead organisation for preparation and observance of the year. The UNESCO has listed certain major objectives for observing this year. These include, increasing the thrust by governments on literary programmes, increasing public awareness on the dimensions and implications of illiteracy, increasing public participation in the programme, increasing cooperation and solidarity amongst Member States and launching a plan of action for complete eradication of illiteracy by 2000 AD.
Literacy is one of the basic human virtues in the present day society. The modern world with its advancement in science and technology requires effective literacy to enable an individual to meaningfully participate in the society. Only a literate individual can keep pace with fast changing socio-economic situation. Equality of human rights can be fully achieved only when there is a mass literacy. In a developing economy like India the need for mass literacy is even more acute. The benefit of Government policies for integrated rural development will percolate in a greater manner to rural masses if they are literate, which would make them conscious about govt. schemes and enable them to avail the benefits. Illiteracy leads to ignorance and ignorance of right or opportunity available makes such right or opportunity non-existent. For the comprehensive development of any nation it is essential that its countrymen should be literate. What is essential for a nation is true for world community as such.
The ILY was launched in the country by the Prime Minister at a national function held at New Delhi on 22.1.90. The spirit behind observing ILY in the country is to view it as a summon to action than a mere celebration. Among the various activities being organised are; environment building through mass media; mass campaigns for complete eradication of illiteracy in Goa, Kerala and Pondicherry and several selected districts/block in other States/UTs; large involvement of students, educational institutions and other sections of the society in literacy programmes; and organising Bharat Gyan Vigyan Jatha to cover 70,000 villages among others.
Text Courtesy: Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development.