The Lok Sabha was informed today that 14 States and Union Territories have already achieved or exceeded the literacy rate of 80 percent. They are: Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu. <br/><br/>In a written reply, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said ten States and Union Territories have also been able to reduce gender gap to 10 per cent or less. These are Punjab, Chandigarh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Goa, Lakshadweep, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. <br/><br/>The Centre is helping the States and Union Territories in improving literacy through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The adults are covered under the Saakshar Bharat Programme, said the Minister.