To induce efficiency and accountability in to Saakshar Bharat (SB) mission, the new variant of national literacy mission (NLM), and ensure optimum and transparent utilisation of allocated fund, Kapil Sibal, union minister for human resource development on Thursday launched web portal of the mission which will put forth information of auditing of the mission in public domain. The portal includes a web based planning and monitoring information system (WePMIS) and financial and accounting monitoring system (FAMS).  

The mission, which was launched by the prime minister in September, 2009, aims to make 70 million adults of above 15 years of age literate in duration of seven years from rural areas of 410 districts.  The mission has been allocated Rs 6000 crore during11th Five Year Plan. The mission focuses primarily on women, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities and other excluded groups.

By March 2012, it is expected to cover nearly 200,000 gram panchayats of the 410 districts. 

Under the WePMIS, government will have a centralised database of beneficiaries collated through intelligent survey forms. The new system will facilitate automatic preparation of physical and cost literacy plans from gram panchayat to national level.

FAMS is a comprehensive financial management information and decision support system, which will ensure timely and interrupted access to funds, up to the gram panchayat level and its optimal utilisation by ensuring funds to not lie idle. Besides, it would prevent diversion of funds for the purposes other than related to the SB programme. 

FAMS is based on fund flow system, customised banking system (based on core banking), online accounting system and the management information system (MIS).

Unlike the previous national literacy mission, under the revised fund flow system, funds are avilble to 200,000 implementing agencies from state to village level on the basis of already sanctioned financial plan. Work modules including preparation of financial plans as per approved norms, apportioning of funds and authorization are all ICT enabled. 

The applications have been developed by centre for development of advanced computing (CDAC) and national informatics centre (NIC). For banking related services, the government has partnered with four banks including, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank and Union Bank.