Is India Literate ?

Dr Mandeep Azad and Dr Manmeet Motan
Kerla is the most literate state in India, with 93.91% literacy, followed by Lakshadweep  at 92.28%.Bihar is the least literate state in India, with a literacy of 63.82%.Literacy rate in the Jammu and Kashmir has improved from 55.5 per cent in 2001 to 67.2 per cent in 2011, however, it is still below the national average of 72.99 per cent. While female literacy has raised from 20% in 1981 Census to 58% this year, the male literacy has also nearly doubled from 44% to 78% during the corresponding three decades. Jammu, Samba and Leh districts have the highest literacy rates of over 90% while Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Ramban, Kulgam and Reasi have a literacy rate of less than 60%
This year September 8 was celebrated as International Literacy Day around the world. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. So what is the scenario of literacy rate in India. India the land of Vedas, where we have learnt over the years that culture flourishes with literature is one of the nations with highest illiteracy rates. Our society faces several challenges in the form of poverty, unemployment, child labour, female feticide, overpopulation etc. But all of them evolve from illiteracy which is actually the mother of most our problems.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has drafted a definition of literacy as the “ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.”
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress and the Indian Literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than six fold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84% and of all nations, India currently has the largest illiterate population. Despite government programmes, India’s literacy rate increased only “sluggishly, and a 1990 study estimated that it would take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of progress. The 2011 census, however, indicated a 2001-2011 decadal literacy growth of 9.2%, which is the slower than the growth seen during the previous decade. The National Sample Survey Organisation and the National Family Health Survey collected data in India on the percentage of children completing primary school which are reported to be only 36.8% and 37.7% respectively. The large proportion of illiterate females is another reason for the low literacy rate in India. Inequality based on gender differences resulted in female literacy rates being lower at 65.46% than that of their male counterparts at 82.14%.
Today we are forced to face the painful reality of illiteracy. There are various television programmes which dissect this social evil and try to spread awareness. But there is no point in just discussing the topic. It’s time we start initiating steps on a nationwide scale to promote literacy. It is time to look for solutions. We the Literate individuals along with the help of the Government should work in tandem to make a difference by working to create a literate society. People should be motivated to accomplish this task which will reduce dependencies of many individuals on others.
It is necessary to understand that blaming the system will not change anything. Moreover, it is wrong and instead it will be better if people change because it is a well-known fact that earth-shaking improvements are accomplishments of individuals alone with a vision and an idea to make a difference. Providing encouragement to both children and their parents alike and making the process of learning enjoyable and practical is also equally important because after all, a literate India means a truly developed India.
Illiteracy can be removed and that quickly, if concerted efforts are made both by private organizations and the states. For this, education must be made free and compulsory at least up to the age of fourteen. But even where education is free in India, it is not compulsory; and it is free only at the lower primary stage here and there.. Of course, making elementary education   compulsory demands money. Children of workers and peasants have to think of earning before they can think of learning. The problem can be solved only by recognition of the fact that education must be the primary responsibility of the State. It must be given a high priority. A high literacy rate can contribute to valuable social and economic participation by the people which will go a long way in human development and poverty eradication. Spread of education is necessary for modernization, urbanization, industrialization, communication and commerce. You name an issue and literacy will be a prerequisite for its solution.
Illiteracy in India can be easily characterized by the wide gaps between the urban and rural populations. The urban population is more educated and therefore desires a life of comfort and luxury. On the other hand, the rural population depends on agriculture for their survival. They are the food providers of our country, who work for basic necessities and thus feel no need for education in their lives. Children in rural areas drop out of schools for a variety of reasons: some leave because of a sheer lack of interest; others quit so that they can work in fields or elsewhere, while some have no other choice due to inaccessibility and lack of school teachers. In villages, a large percentage of the dropouts are females. Forced by their parents, they are limited to performing household chores. They are married at a very early age and are taught since birth that what is important for them is their family and the looking after the house. Education is not even a secondary item on their to-do lists. Inadequate number of teachers and their absence in schools across the country is another roadblock towards complete literacy. A large number of teachers refuse to teach in rural areas and those who do, are usually under-qualified. Many teachers lack the necessary enthusiasm because of their meagre salaries. The distribution of Government funds is another major hindrance in the reform of our educational system. According to World Bank, ’30 % of the total educational funding goes toward higher educational institutions.’ What with announcements of quota in higher education and an increase in the number of IIMs & IITs, the government clearly cares little for primary education.
So it is very important to provide good qualified skilled teachers in rural areas in order to improve literacy. In my opinion we should select doctors, bureaucrats and higher officials by any set of exams but the process of selecting a teacher should be toughest and transparent so that best individuals are selected to serve this Nobel profession because a teacher is responsible for making future of many young minds.

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