Educating the Girl Child aged 6-14 in Remote, Rural Areas
Government of India is committed to achieving Universalisation of Elementary Education by 2010. This entails a special thrust on girl’s education. Statistics reveal that, despite efforts made, gender disparities persist in enrollment of girls, especially in rural areas and among disadvantaged groups. This disparity is more acute in the enrollment of backward classes and minorities girls.
Absence of literacy
Literacy is the primary building block for poverty reduction and human development. It provides a window of opportunity for effective social and economic growth. India still harbours pockets of very low levels of female literacy.
This disparity is acute in the enrolment of girls from schedule castes and minorities. In Uttar Pradesh, 31% of all the girls in the age group of 6-14 are still out of school.
In Rajasthan, the Mewat area in Alwar district is very backward. Worst affected is the Meo community, the original inhabitants of Mewat. The literacy rate of Meo girls over 15 years of age is just 8%!
Low literacy levels in many states
|
S.No.
|
State
|
Literacy Rate
|
Gender Gap
|
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
|||
|
1
|
Bihar
|
60
|
34
|
26
|
|
2
|
Jharkhand
|
68
|
39
|
29
|
|
3
|
D & N Haveli
|
73
|
43
|
30
|
|
4
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
70
|
43
|
27
|
|
5
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
66
|
42
|
24
|
|
6
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
64
|
44
|
20
|
|
7
|
Rajasthan
|
76
|
44
|
32
|
Source: Census of India 2001
17,000 girls are currently enrolled in IIMPACT’s girl child education programme