The need of universal literacy is recognized in all the developing countries because there has been a significant socio-economic development in those countries where there is universal literacy or high rate of literacy. As pointed out by Dr. Shankar Dyal Sarma, the then president of India, “Literacy is an indispensable component of human resource development and an essential element for national progress. Before independence, the movement for universal literacy was confined to some voluntary agencies and the British Government has shown nominal interest in mass literacy. The eminent freedom fighters and social reformers like Dadabhal Neoroji, Gopala Krishna Gokhale, Mahatma Gandhi and Abdul Kalam Azad recognized the imparting education to all has continued, perhaps more rapidly after independence. The Mass Literacy Campaign Programme was taken up in a big way on 5th May 1998, with well defined methods for undertaking the gigantic mission of achieving 100% literacy by the year 1995 or by the end of the VIII plan. The programme inaugurated by Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, with a planned programme of action of involving all governmental and voluntary organizations in the programme. In the Andhra Pradesh even before independence, Prof. N.G. Ranga and Shri Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao, took keen interest in education and universal literacy. The sate of Andhra Pradesh has undertaken this programme as part of over all national strategy. Data were collected form these sample respondents using three types of interview schedules for the respective groups. The schedules for learners and literacy volunteers were prepared in Telugu (local language) and interview schedule for functionaries was prepared in English. A separate test was administered on the neo-literates to know their level of literary.
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