Clocking a literacy rate of 98.76 per cent, the northeastern district 112km south of Mizoram’s capital Aizawl is a far cry from Alirajpur at the other end in Madhya Pradesh.
A combination of factors such as missionary schools, aggressive campaign on the ground, an association with the chief minister and location that keeps it off the migrant trail are being seen as the key reasons for the high rate of literacy in Serchhip.
The low population base of a little over 60,000 also helped.
“The Young Mizo Association, a prominent NGO, has contributed much in adult education, visiting people’s homes and educating them. All school-going children attend school and there are very few school dropouts,” said H. Darzika, deputy commissioner of Serchhip.
“Chief minister Lalthanhawla has been an MLA from the district for the fourth time, thrice as chief minister and once as an Opposition MLA. We have 42 village councils and all villages have electricity,” the official added.
The head of each village council also helms the village education committee. The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan has been considered successful in Mizoram. Catholic missionaries had reached Serchhip in the 1950s and set up schools.
Serchhip has recorded a high literacy rate because “it has no migrants”, said Irene Lalruatkimi, All India Radio deputy director based in Aizawl. “The Mizos of Aizawl, too are highly literate. But the rate of literacy among communities such as the Brus, Reangs and Chakmas who come into Aizawl is low and this brings the rate down here.”
Serchhip is further away from districts such as Lunglei, which is accessed by migrants from Bangladesh, and Champhai, which is preferred by those entering from Myanmar. “It is easier for the migrants to settle in the districts that are closest to the international borders,” an official said.
Paddy cultivation and horticulture are the main vocations in Serchhip which is known for its crop of oranges.
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