India's literacy rate as per the provisional data of Census 2011 is a little over 74 percent. This is lower than the world literacy rate, largely because of the huge backlog of non-literate persons. The main causes are poverty, gender and social inequities and inadequate access to schooling. Stating this in the Lok Sabha today, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said the government is committed to provide full literacy to all citizens irrespective of their age and gender. He mentioned the Saakshar Bharat programme which is being implemented country-wide since 2009-10 to provide literacy and educate persons in the age group of 15 and above.