The International Literacy Day is being observed across the world today. Several functions have been organised in the country to mark the day. Vice-President Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari will distribute the awards 'Certificate of Literacy' at a function in Lucknow.

A three-day Shaksharta Mahotsav is on in the city with the inauguration of a skill development, livelihood and literacy exhibition by Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi on Friday. The grand out reach programme for propagation of literacy among adults aged 15 years and above has been organised this time in Lucknow by the HRD Ministry under its Shakshar Bharat Mission. HRD Minister Kapil Sibbal along with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will participate in the programme.

Detailing about the programme earlier, HRD Ministry Joint Secretary and Shaksharta Mission Director-General Jagmohan Singh Raju told AIR that this time the Mahotsav was being organised in Uttar Pradesh as there was a huge gap among male and female literacy rates in the state. He said in Uttar Pradesh 89.22 per cent men were literate while only 59.26 per cent women literate.

In his massage on the occasion, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has said that illiteracy was obstructing achievement of UN development goals. He appealed to the International community to try to wipe out illiteracy.