The government today said that the literacy rate in the country has gone up to 74 per cent.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Human Resource Development minister Kapil Sibal said according to the 2011 census, the literacy rate increased to 74.04 per cent from 64.83 per cent in 2001. Mr Sibal said the government has issued detailed guidelines for effective implementation of the mid day meal scheme.

The minister informed the House the scheme is one of the important contributory factors in the improvement of the literacy and dropout rates. Mr Sibal said the dropout rate the elementary level which was little over 55 per cent during 1999-2000, has come down to 42 per cent in 2009-10.

The minister said the enrolment and retention of children in schools depend on several factors including government interventions in the field of education, health and nutrition as well as demographic changes and level of economic development. Mr Sibal said the central government has issued detailed guidelines to all the states for effective implementation of the scheme.

He also informed that the working of the scheme is constantly reviewed by the central government. The minister said 41 independent institutions also monitor the mid day meal scheme.