An Indian government official charged with improving the nation's literacy is confident the country's current goal of achieving a 75 percent literacy rate by 2005 is within reach.

Jagan Mathews, who heads the National Literacy Mission, an affiliate of the Indian Education Ministry, said the country's literacy rate has improved to more than 60 percent following nationwide campaigns that commenced more than a decade ago.

"Once the literacy rate goes up to 75 percent, it will create momentum and keep going," said Mathews, who is visiting Japan to attend an international conference on promoting literacy in Asia.