Goa CM challenges Kerala's 100% literacy claim, says 'practically it doesn’t look like'

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday announced the state’s ambitious target of achieving a 100 per cent literacy rate by December 19, 2025, coinciding with Goa Liberation Day. Taking a dig at Kerala’s claim of 100 per cent literacy, Sawant said, “Kerala claims to have achieved 100 per cent literacy, but practically it doesn’t look like.”

Speaking during a webinar on the "Swayampurna Goa" initiative, Sawant emphasized the importance of involving local communities and panchayats to ensure that no one is left behind. Goa currently has a literacy rate of 88.70 per cent, as per the 2011 Census.

Sawant also highlighted plans to extend Union Government schemes like the Kisan Credit Card, Kisan Soil Card, and Kisan Vima Card to all farmers in the state, urging panchayats to actively participate in these efforts by displaying data on farmer enrollment in their jurisdictions.

He praised the efforts of “Swayampurna mitras,” state-appointed officers, for their role in saturating Central schemes in Goa, reaffirming his commitment to holistic development alongside the literacy drive. (PTI)