Answer

Mizoram has emerged as India’s first fully literate state under the Centre’s ULLAS — New India Literacy Programme, which mandates a minimum literacy rate of 95% of the population. According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24, 98.2% of Mizo citizens aged seven and above are literate, surpassing the national average of 80.9% and even exceeding Kerala’s literacy rate (95.3%).

Role of Functional Literacy in Enhancing Democratic Participation

• Access to Information: Literate citizens can access government schemes and policies through digital platforms like Digital India.
  Eg: Mizo citizens effectively use the DigiLocker and Aadhaar to avail welfare benefits.
• Demand for Accountability: Educated citizens hold elected representatives accountable through petitions and social media.
  Eg: Mizo youth used social media campaigns under the MyGov platform to press for improved rural healthcare, demonstrating empowered citizen participation.
• Informed Voting: Functional literacy enables citizens to understand political manifestos and policies, promoting responsible voting.
  Eg: In the 2023 Mizoram Legislative Assembly elections, the state achieved an 80.66% voter turnout, with 81.25% female voter turnout.
• Active Civic Engagement: Literacy encourages participation in local governance and public consultations.
  Eg: Strong community involvement in Village Council meetings enhances grassroots democracy in Mizoram.
• Reduced Political Manipulation: Literacy reduces susceptibility to misinformation and vote-buying.
  Eg: Literacy rates in Mizoram are 98.1% in rural and 98.3% in urban areas, contrasting sharply with the national 15% urban-rural gap, lowering manipulation risks.
• Enhanced Legal Awareness: Literacy improves knowledge of rights and legal processes, enabling justice access.

Role of Functional Literacy in Enhancing Social Equity

• Gender Equality: Literacy empowers women economically and socially, narrowing gender gaps.
  Eg: Mizoram’s female workforce participation rate is the third highest in India (PLFS, 2023).
• Improved Health Outcomes: Literate populations better understand health advice, improving community health.
  Eg: Mizoram has the lowest infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country at 3 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-5).
• Economic Empowerment: Functional literacy aids skill development, enhancing employment opportunities.
• Social Inclusion: Literacy facilitates the integration of marginalized communities into mainstream society.
  Eg: Local volunteers, known as Talaw Talaw Mang Mangayana, overcame geographic challenges to ensure literacy reaches remote areas.
• Reduced Poverty: Literacy improves financial literacy and access to credit, helping break poverty cycles.
  Eg: Mizo women entrepreneurs showed increased uptake of PM Mudra Yojana loans, boosting economic independence.
• Cultural Preservation: Literacy supports the documentation and transmission of indigenous knowledge.
  Eg: Mizo language and folk traditions are preserved through community-led digital archives and education.

As India aspires for inclusive development, Mizoram’s literacy success presents a guiding framework. By investing in functional literacy, empowering local communities, and aligning development with cultural ethos, other states can bridge socio-economic divides and deepen democratic roots, making people the true agents of change.

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