Agartala, Dec. 7: Kadiyam Srihari, deputy chief minister (in charge of education) of Telangana, admired Tripura's massive unsung achievement of 97.22 per cent literacy in an estimated 38 lakh population.

He was so impressed by the success achieved by the state that he is keen to replicate it in Telangana, which has a literacy rate of only 66 per cent.

"Tripura has achieved the almost impossible; despite long years of insurgency, the state has reached the pinnacle of success in literacy rate in the entire country. We will try to do the same," Srihari told mediapersons.

He had arrived here on Sunday with a number of senior officials, including the directors of education, elementary education and state resource centre, to specifically study how Tripura had achieved the feat.

Srihari held a high-level meeting with Tripura education minister Tapan Chakraborty, chief secretary Yashpaul Singh, principal secretary Sushil Kumar and director of education M.K. Nath.

Tripura officials briefed him and his team about the work done by the state in successfully implementing the mass literacy campaign ever since the launch of the programme in 1995.

On Monday, Srihari met chief minister Manik Sarkar and visited the interiors of Gomati district as well as tribal-dominated Khumlung in West Tripura. "We want to replicate Tripura's success and we will invite resource persons from this state; what has impressed me most here is the vibrant role of panchayats and the literacy volunteers. This is an example which deserves emulation," Srihari said.

"We can learn from Tripura as my state is still behind national average in terms of general and adult literacy," he said. Srihari met officials and activists connected with the literacy movement and gathered inputs.

He described as "most remarkable" the involvement of all sections of people, including the backward classes, in the literacy movement. "Effort is on to attain 100 per cent literacy and I am sure it will be achieved soon," Srihari said before leaving today.