Tripura surged ahead of Kerala to achieve top position in literacy chart in India. The state fell short to become fully literate state, but as of date stands at 94.65 percent.

“Our goal is to 100 percent literacy. We would attain that very soon”, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said at a function to mark World Literacy Day on Sunday.

He thanked state literacy mission and everyone involved in the strenuous campaign that brought glory to the state. Chief Minister made the declaration (94.65 per cent) on basis of final assessment made in all the districts of the state.

“We intended to declare Tripura as total literate state on this auspicious occasion, but could not as some people, specially elderly persons are yet to be reached”, a literacy mission official regretted.

He said efforts were underway to literate leftover 5.35 percent people and achieve complete success in a state of about 3.8 million people.

Tripura became fourth highest literate state in India after 2011 census recorded 87.75 percent literacy. In 2001 Tripura’s place was 13th in the country.

Nodal agency state literacy mission and other connected organisations started getting success in state’s remote and hill areas after security forces contained armed extremist problem. Education scenario had taken a complete dismal shape in interior areas as fall out insurgency and ethnic unrest.

Tripura officials said the literacy rate in Mizoram is 88.80 per cent and Kerala 93.91 percent as per available records.