More than five decades have passed since India achieved independence from the British. Still India remains a backward country because more than fifty percent of India’s population is illiterate. India is a vast country and achieving cent per cent literacy has not been possible.

    After independence, there has been a considerable increase in the number of schools and the number of students who have acquired education in these institution has also increase tremendously. However, most of our people are still illiterate and they can not afford to send their children to school. There is extreme poverty and also back of awareness about the importance of education. There is a slow increase in the rate of literacy.

    The need to launch a programme, to educate the adults of our country, was therefore felt immediately after independence. The idea was mooted by the father of the nation, Mahatama Gandhi, with the help of union education Department and the State Education Services. The programme aimed at making the illiterate masses of India aware of the learners, incentives were given to the learners who were explained the importance of education. The help of highly dedicated persons was sought to implement the programme of adults literacy. Also, the help of radio, T.V. And various village development unions was taken on large scale to make the programme a success. People in large numbers came forward to render help to the learners and the learners also cooperated. The results were not satisfactory.

       There are many reasons. Firstly, India is a very large country and the problem is acute. Most of the illiterate adults are not ready to devote time to education. They want to give this time to the earning of their livelihood. The government is not able to provide sufficient funds for the implementation of the programme of adults Education. At some places, the scheme is only on paper and nothing is being done to launch it in practice. It is very difficult to convince the poorest of the poor that they should acquire some literacy or some fundamentals of education before they start earning their livelihood. Hence, the programme has not met with success. There is, however no doubt that the Adults Education programme has borne some fruit. Many people in cities and villages have taken advantage of it. Many farmers, workers, women and artisans are now able to read newspapers and keep their personal accounts. Though the programme has not been able to gain much popularity among the masses of India, the results have not been very disappointing. India really needs Adults Education movement. It can certainly achieve massive success if the Government and non-government bodies come forward and extend their whole-hearted support.