THE DAY the Unesco rapped India for its poor literacy level, the HRD ministry added to the bad news by saying it would not be able to achieve 85 per cent literacy target by 2012. On the basis of population growth, the Unesco's Institute of Sta- tistics has projected that In- dia's literacy rate is just a shade over 60 per cent, poor compared to global standards. According to Unesco, one- third of the world's illiterates live in India. "But we expect a lot of change with the Indian government play- ing a proactive role in improving literacy rates," Unesco's Sheldon Shaeffer said, announcing a regi- onal conference on global literacy that will begin in the capital on Thursday . But Vandana Jena, the joint secre- tary in the HRD ministry who is the in-charge of the National Literacy Mission, did not seem so sure. She said it was doubtful whether the country would reach the 85 per cent target as set by the 11th plan. "Even if we achieve 80 per cent liter- acy, it would be an achievement," she said. The government has planned a Lifelong Educa- tion and Awareness Progra- mme (Leap) to bring the literacy level as close as pos- sible to the 2012 target. The programme would offer diverse le- arning and functional skills. Also some 250 Jan Shikshan San- sthans would be established by 2012. The HRD ministry has blamed the National Literacy Mission for the poor literacy level, saying it did not target illiterates above 35 years and catered only to the 15-35 age group. With the school dropout rate falling consistently, the ministry said, most illiterates would be in the 35-plus age group. Although the Planning Commis- sion has increased allocation for literacy by four times to Rs 6,000 crore in its 11th plan, the HRD min- istry felt the funds were insufficient. The ministry had asked for Rs 34,000 crore to achieve the 85 per cent target. "There are 150 million illiterates in the 35-plus age group. We need a huge amount of money to bring them into the fold," one ministry official said. The ministry will also aim at re- ducing the literacy gender gap from 20 per cent to 10 per cent as well as try reducing social disparities. "There would be special focus on backward and minority-dominated districts," Jena said. chetan@... Dismal show India has been criticised by Unesco for its poor literacy record Literacy report card 105 India's rank in Education Development Index for 2008 62% The literate population 1/3rd India's share in the global illiterate count 64% Literates in the seven-plus age group 71% Know their letters in the 15-35 age group 150 million Illiterates above 35 years 75% The 10th plan literacy target 85% Target for the 11th plan 80% The literacy level the HRD ministry says it would try to reach 11 crore The gross enrolment ratio in primary schools in 1999; percentage of girls was 43 In the pipeline A Lifelong Education and Awareness Programme (Leap) to take the literacy level as close as possible to 85 per cent 250 Jan Shikshan Sansthans to be established by 2012 Literacy programmes to be brought under Panchayati Raj Institutions