An 85-year old tribal woman, kembi, from Mananthavady is among the 2,993 candidates who cleared a literacy examination conducted by the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority in the second phase of its tribal literacy project in Wayanad district.
Kembi, of Padachikunnu colony in Mananthawady Muncipality, was also the oldest among the candidates. Santha, 18,of vellari colony, Muppainadu grama panchayat, was the youngest.
women dazzle
The pass percentage for the exam, which was attended by 3,090 persons, stood at 98.9%. Of the successful candidates, majority were women- 2285. Kapleta block had 812 successful candidates, the highest in the list. The exam was set for 100 marks with three components, reading (30 marks), writing (40 marks), and arithmetic (30 marks). The candidates had to score 30 marks to pass. The phase II activities were launched in February this year in 200 Oorus in 26 local bodies. Classes were held in the evenings. The Phase II survey had revealed 5,342 illiterate persons, of which 3,133 were women and 2,209, men. Of this, 2,993 were aged between 15 and 50, while 2,349 were above 50.
In all, 7,302 tribal candidates have passed the mission’s exam in the first and second phases combined.