HP may topple Kerala to gain first position in literacy

With literacy rate increasing at a fast pace, Himachal Pradesh is tipped to surpass Kerala to gain top position in literacy in the country by 2011.

According to the 2001 census, Himachal Pradesh had registered a literacy rate of 77 per cent, which showed enormous growth and presently is at 84 per cent, an increase of 7 per cent, Economic Advisor, State Economics and Statistics department, Pradeep Chauhan told PTI today.

If the state continues with its present growth, it would topple Kerala to bag first position in the country, Chauhan said.

Kerala had a literacy rate of 91 per cent according to 2001 census in comparison to 90 per cent in 1991, an increase of mere one per cent, he said.