New Delhi, Dec 21, 2022, By Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Dec 21: The Government of India has recently approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme -- New India Literacy Programme (NILP) -- with the aim to supporting the States and Union Territories, including all north eastern States, in promoting literacy in the age group of 15 and above in the next five years.

The scheme has been approved with a financial outlay of Rs.1,037.90 crore including Central share of Rs.700.00 crore and State share of Rs.337.90 crore, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy informed the Lok Sabha.

Besides, a Centrally-sponsored scheme of adult education “Padhna Likhna Abhiyaan” was being implemented in rural and urban areas of 33 states/UTs, including north eastern states, during 2020-22, with a target of turning 48.16 lakh adult non-literates into literates.

To restrict/control social problems such as human trafficking, drug abuse, HIV and to improve literacy in North-Eastern region during the last five years, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments by undertaking various initiatives and measures in this regard.

The MHA has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs 98.86 crores under “Nirbhaya Fund” to all States and UTs during the financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21 for strengthening the existing Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and for establishing new AHTUs covering all districts of the States and UTs. 

The MHA also provides financial assistance to States and UTs for holding “Judicial Colloquiums” and “State level conferences” on periodic basis for sensitising judicial and police officials and to make available to them updated information on latest provisions of law relating to human trafficking. 

The ministry has also been issuing advisories and guidelines to States on preventing and countering the crime of human trafficking. 

Further, the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, was amended in 2019 to authorise the National Investigation Agency to investigate cases of human trafficking having inter-State and international ramifications under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC).