The bulk of our population is poor and illiterate. Their sorry condition poses a problem. On the one hand, there is a shortage of teachers for adult education and, on the other, the adults feel shy of starting to learn at a late age and attend classes like children. Moreover, the adult villagers have little time to spare for attending classes. The job of a farmer is very strenuous and he needs ample rest and relaxation. In addition, he finds that what is taught at adult centres of education has no bearing on his daily needs and therefore he has become cynical about adult education. It is necessary to make adult education in villages agriculture-oriented so as to make it more meaningful for the farmer. In towns and cities also, adult education needs to be made work-based. It should comprise types of system in which earning and learning go together side by side. Efforts should be made to discourage the tendency of the village folk to migrate to the towns.