Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

Image Courtesy: Google

ULLAS

In a bold step towards advancing education and literacy among adults in India, the ULLAS app was launched on the sidelines of the Akhil Bhartiya Siksha Samgam (ABSS). This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, aims to revolutionize lifelong learning.

 

Centre launches ULLAS mobile application to promote basic literacy

Addressing the citizens, Union Minister Pradhan emphasised the importance of the ULLAS mobile application in utilising technology to promote universal access to basic literacy

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inauguration of the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. The event likewise saw the Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, presenting the logo, motto – “Jan Jan Sakshar”, and mobile app ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram. The event was held on the sidelines of the third anniversary of NEP 2020.

 

Attending the crowd, Union Minister Pradhan emphasised on the importance of the ULLAS mobile application in using technology to promote universal access to basic literacy. The initiative of ULLAS envisages unleashing a revolution in education and literacy across the nation by encouraging a conducive and comprehensive environment that takes special care of each and every person, bridging gaps in essential proficiency and basic fundamental abilities. It also concentrates on empowering citizens to participate in nation-building and promoting functional literacy, vocational skills, and essential life skills like financial literacy, legal literacy, and digital literacy.

ULLAS mobile application: Overview

The application is accessible on both Android and iOS platforms, and fills in as a digital gateway to draw in students with different educational resources through the DIKSHA portal of NCERT. Either by self-registration or through surveyors, learners and volunteers can sign up. Citizens over the age of 15 who were unable to attend formal school are primarily the target audience for the program. It works through volunteerism, empowering volunteers to take part as DUTY or Kartavya Bodh towards nation-building.

 

Student volunteers will be boosted with credits in school/university and appreciation via certificates, letters of appreciation, felicitation, among different means, ANI revealed. The brand new slogan and logo, “ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram” is a symbol of the campaign’s enthusiasm and determination to spread education throughout the nation. In order to foster a culture of knowledge sharing in Indian communities, the initiative aims to ignite each individual’s natural curiosity and drive toward continuous education.

 

 

Understanding ULLAS: The Journey Begins

ULLAS, an acronym for “Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society,” is not just an app; it is a transformative tool aimed at bridging the educational gaps in society. Its primary objective is to reach out to over 12 lakh drop-out students and individuals who couldn’t access formal education and bring them back into the learning fold.

 

Fostering Adult Education and Literacy

At its core, the ULLAS app is committed to promoting adult education and literacy across the nation. It seeks to impart basic education, digital literacy, financial literacy, and critical life skills to citizens aged 15 and above. By providing a user-friendly and interactive platform, ULLAS enables learners to acquire knowledge at their own pace and convenience.

 

 

Volunteerism: Driving the Change

One of the standout features of ULLAS is its implementation through volunteerism. The app encourages the active involvement of volunteers who are passionate about fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge-sharing in communities across India. This collaborative approach creates a powerful learning ecosystem, ensuring education reaches every individual.

 

The New India Literacy Programme: A Supportive Framework

The Government of India has approved the New India Literacy Programme, spanning from FYs 2022 to 2027, to encompass all aspects of “Education For All,” previously known as Adult Education. This scheme aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and aims to enhance access to resources and online modules, covering various adult education topics.

A Digital Gateway to Learning

The ULLAS app acts as a virtual portal for learners, granting them entry to a wide range of educational materials accessible via the DIKSHA portal of NCERT. This seamless access empowers individuals to expand their knowledge and skills, breaking barriers of traditional learning.

Prioritizing Vital Life Skills

ULLAS goes beyond the conventional scope of education. It emphasizes the promotion of vital life skills, particularly financial literacy and legal literacy. By equipping learners with these essential skills, ULLAS prepares them for active participation in society and the economy.

Symbolizing the Enthusiasm and Vigour of Learning

The logo and slogan of ULLAS, “ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram,” beautifully capture the campaign’s enthusiasm and vigour. The logo symbolizes the spreading of the light of knowledge across every corner of the country, igniting curiosity and a passion for learning in every individual.

 

To get to ULLAS:

Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, intrigued people can download the mobile application from Google PlayStore or the iOS app Store.

 

Significance and Usage:

 

When The Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan launched the logo, slogan-Jan Jan Sakshar and mobile application of ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram on the occasion of three years of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative aims to revolutionize education and literacy across India, by fostering a learning ecosystem that reaches every individual, bridging the gaps in basic literacy and critical life skills. It envisages to impart basic education, digital and financial literacy and critical life skills to citizens aged 15 and above who lost on the opportunity to go to school.

According to government data, as many as 12,53,019 students are out of school in the year 2022-23 with the number of boys greater than girls. The ULLAS mobile phone application has the potential to bring these students back to learning by providing them with an open source learning platform.

“This user-friendly and interactive app is available both on android and ios devices and will serve as a digital gateway for learners to engage in diverse learning resources through the DIKSHA portal of NCERT. The ULLAS app marks a significant milestone in harnessing the potential of technology to facilitate widespread access to basic literacy,” Dharmendra Pradhan said on the sidelines of the inauguration of Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023.

The ULLAS app can be used for registration of learners and volunteers either through self-registration or by surveyors, he added. The Minister highlighted that ULLAS will focus on promoting functional literacy, vocational skills, and many important life skills like financial literacy, legal literacy, digital literacy, and empowerment of citizens to involve in nation-building of the country. It also fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge-sharing in communities across India, he added. The initiative is being implemented through volunteerism.

“The new logo and slogan, “ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram,” reflect the enthusiasm and vigour of the campaign. It symbolises the light of knowledge spreading across every corner of the country, empowering citizens with the power of education, and igniting the flame of curiosity and learning in every individual making Jan Jan Sakshar,” he said.

The scheme will motivate volunteers to take part in the scheme as DUTY or Kartavya Bodh towards the nation building and will incentivise the student volunteers through credits in school/ university and appreciation through other means like certificates, appreciation letters, felicitation, among others.

 

Blog By: Trupti Thakur