New Delhi: Observing that there is wide disparity in the success achieved among States in literacy campaign, President A P J Abdul Kalam today (Sep 8, 2004) suggested that services of literate children could be utilised to educate 14 million unlettered by 2004/05.

"If we take 2001 Census as the base, and we have to reduce the illiteracy from the existing 35 per cent to 25 per cent by the year 2007, we need to educate at least 14 million people per year.

"But the present statistics shows that we are not able to achieve a target greater than seven to eight million people per year. This requires an immediate correction," he said at a function to celebrate the International Literacy Day.

Noting that he had met over five lakh school children who promised to participate in the literacy mission, Kalam said the HRD (Human Resource Development) Ministry could promote this concept and create National Literacy Camps in all the regions during the vacation in collaboration with the State Governments and NGOs.

"As a first step, I would suggest that the Ministry to put a yearly target of 14 million people to be educated in the age group of 15 to 35 years during the year 2004/05 by having a mission mode programme through the involvement of school children and the universities for promoting adult literacy in addition to the existing adult literacy mission projects," he told the gathering of educationists, diplomats and children.