Raipur, Sep 9 (IANS) Chhattisgarh has stepped up its campaign to rope in adults, especially women, to impart formal education at the over 5,000 literacy centres set up in Dantewada, one of India's most illiterate districts.

The state government has set up 5,343 literacy centres in the district - the worst hit by Maoist insurgency for three decades - and has appealed to illiterate adults and high school dropouts to register with the nearest education centre to help improve the district's literacy rate.

District collector K.R. Pisda said the predominantly tribal Dantewada has a literacy rate of 24.56 percent - 32.3 percent male and 16.85 percent female.

"Education department officials with the strong backing of teachers and private educational organisations have this year brought thousands of adult illiterates, mostly women, to these literacy centres set up under the National Literacy Mission (NLM)," said Pisda.

The Indian government set up the NLM in May 1988 to launch campaigns as the dominant strategy for eradication of illiteracy.

"Thousands of volunteers and government officials have been camping in interior forested belts of the hilly district to convince tribals about the importance of education. We will create a revolution and inspire thousands of primitive tribal groups to attend schools and literacy centres," Pisda added.

The state has directed primary school teachers to visit houses in their areas and bring back school dropouts up to 14 years of age as well as persuade fresh entrants to schools.