00:05But does being able to read make us truly literate?
00:12Literacy is more than reading.
00:16Imagine this, someone can read a newspaper, write their name, understand basic numbers.
00:22But when a fake message arrives on their phone, when they see a manipulated video or when
00:28AI generates something that looks completely real, they believe it without questioning
00:33it.
00:33So here's the question, are they truly literate?
00:36And more importantly, what does it actually mean to be literate in 2026?
00:42Every year on September 8th, the world observes International Literacy Day.
00:47It was established by UNESCO to remind the world that literacy is not simply about learning
00:53to read and write.
00:54It is a fundamental human right because the ability to understand information can determine
00:59whether a person can access education, find opportunities, understand their rights and
01:04make informed decisions.
01:05And in 2026, this day becomes even more significant because this year marks the 60th anniversary
01:11of International Literacy Day.
01:13But after six decades, are we close to solving the literacy problem?
01:18Not quite.
01:18According to UNESCO, in 2024, at least 739 million young people and adults still lacked basic literacy
01:27skills.
01:27And the problem begins much earlier.
01:30Around 4 out of every 10 children worldwide are not reaching the minimum level of reading
01:34proficiency.
01:35At the same time, hundreds of millions of children and adolescents remain out of school.
01:39So the challenge isn't simply getting children into classrooms.
01:42The bigger question is, are they actually gaining the skills they need to navigate the world?
01:47Because the meaning of literacy itself is changing.
01:50For generations, literacy meant three basic things.
01:53Read, write, understand.
01:55But today, that's no longer enough.
01:57You also need to know how to identify reliable information, how to recognize misinformation,
02:02how to safely navigate the digital world, how to question what you see online.
02:07And now, with artificial intelligence becoming part of everyday life, there is another skill
02:11we increasingly need.
02:13Knowing that something looking real doesn't necessarily make it true.
02:16Today, the world doesn't have a shortage of information.
02:19We have a shortage of people who can correctly understand and evaluate it.
02:21That's exactly why the theme of International Literacy Day 2026 is Literacy for People, Planet,
02:28and Prosperity.
02:29Three words, but a much bigger idea.
02:32People because literacy can create inclusion and opportunity.
02:35Planet because informed people are better equipped to understand environmental challenges
02:39and make sustainable choices.
02:41And Prosperity because literacy is one of the foundations for education, employment, and
02:45economic participation.
02:47In other words, literacy isn't just an education issue, it is a development issue.
02:50And in a country like India, this becomes even more important.
02:55Because real literacy isn't simply knowing the alphabet.
02:59It's understanding a bank message, recognizing an online scam, knowing your rights, questioning
03:05information, and having the confidence to make better decisions.
03:08That is also why organizations working in social development have a responsibility to look
03:14beyond what was delivered and ask what actually changed.
03:17At Finovation, that question lies at the heart of our approach to social impact.
03:22Because whether the intervention is education, livelihoods, health, sustainability, or community
03:28development, the ultimate measure isn't activity, it's impact.
03:32And perhaps that's what literacy should really mean in the 21st century.
03:37Not just the ability to read the word, but the ability to understand it, question it,
03:42and change it.
03:42This International Literacy Day, let's rethink what it truly means to be literate.
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