![Literacy in India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Literacy rates (by district) in India. Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress,[1] and the Indian literacy rate grew to 68% in 2007 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947.[2][3] According to the latest survey by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in June 2008, the literacy rate among the population with age 7 and above was 72% whereas the adult population (age 15 and above) had a literacy rate of 66%. [4] Although this was a greater than fivefold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%,[5] and India currently has the largest illiterate population of any nation on earth.[6] Despite government programs, India's literacy rate increased only "sluggishly,"[7] and a 1990 study estimated that it would take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of progress.[8] The 2001 census, however, indicated a 1991-2001 decadal literacy growth of 12.63%, which is the fastest-ever on record.[9] There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate in India: adult (15+ years) literacy rates in 2009 were 76.9% for men and 54.5% for women.[10] The low female literacy rate has had a dramatically negative impact on family planning and population stabilization efforts in India. Studies have indicated that female literacy is a strong predictor of the use of contraception among married Indian couples, even when women do not otherwise have economic independence.[11] The census provided a positive indication that growth in female literacy rates (14.38%) was substantially faster than in male literacy rates (11.13%) in the 1991-2001 decadal period, which means the gender gap appears to be narrowing.[9]Contents [hide] 1 Comparative literacy statistics 2 Growth of literacy 2.1 The British Period 2.2 Post Independence 3 Literacy rate variations between states 4 Learnings from state literacy efforts in India 4.1 Bihar literacy challenges 4.2 Kerala literacy successes 4.3 Himachal Pradesh literacy successes 4.4 Mizoram literacy successes 4.5 Tamil Nadu literacy successes 4.6 Rajasthan literacy successes 5 Social commentary 6 Literacy efforts 6.1 Government schemes 6.1.1 National Literacy Mission 6.1.2 Sarva Siksha Abhiyan 6.1.3 Mid-day Meal Scheme 6.2 Non-governmental efforts 6.2.1 Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation 7 Definition of literacy 8 See also 9 References 10 External links [edit] Comparative literacy statistics About 35% of world's illiterate population is Indian and, based on historic patterns of literacy growth across the world, India may account for a majority of the world's illiterates by 2020.[12][13] The table below shows the adult and youth literacy rates for India and some neighbouring countries in 2002.[14] Adult literacy rate is based on the 15+ years age group, while Youth literacy rate is for the 15–24 years age group (i.e. youth is a subset of adults).Country Adult Literacy Rate Youth Literacy Rate China 93.3% (2007) [15] 98.9% (2004)[16] Sri Lanka 90.8 (2007) 98.0 Burma 89.9% (2007) [17] 94.4% (2004)[18] Iran 82.4% (2007) [19] 95% (2002)[20] World Average 84% (1998)[5] 88% (2001)[21] India 66.0% (2007)[3] 82% (2001)[3] Nepal 56.5 (2007) 62.7 Pakistan 54.2 (2007)[22] 53.9 Bangladesh 53.5 (2007) 49.7 [edit] Growth of literacy [edit] The British Period Literacy in India grew very slowly until independence in 1947. An acceleration in the rate of literacy growth occurred in the 1991-2001 period. During the British period, literacy grew tardily. Between 1881-82 and 1946-47, the number of primary schools grew from 82,916 to 134,866 and the number of students grew from 2,061,541 to 10,525,943. Literacy rates in British India rose from 3.2 per cent in 1881 to 7.2 per cent in 1931 and 12.2 per cent in 1947.[2] In 2000-01, there were 60,840 pre-primary and pre-basic schools, and 664,041 primary and junior basic schools.[23] Total enrollment at the primary level has increased from 19,200,000 in 1950-51 to 109,800,000 in 2001-02.[24] The number of high schools in 2000-01 was higher than the number of primary schools at the time of independence.[2][23] In 1944, the Government of British India presented a plan, called the Sergeant Scheme for the educational reconstruction of India, with a goal of producing 100% literacy in the country within 40 years, i.e. by 1984.[25] Although the 40 year time-frame was derided at the time by leaders of the Indian independence movement as being too long a period to achieve universal literacy,[25] India had only just crossed the 64% level by the 2001 census. [edit] Post Independence The provision of universal and compulsory education for all children in the age group of 6-14 was a cherished national ideal and had been given overriding priority by incorporation as a Directive Policy in Article 45 of the Constitution, but it is still to be achieved more than half a century since the Constitution was adopted in 1949. Parliament has passed the Constitution 86th Amendment Act, 2002, to make elementary education a Fundamental Right for children in the age group of 6–14 years.[26] In order to provide more funds for education, an education cess of 2 per cent has been imposed on all direct and indirect central taxes through the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004.[27] Since independence, the literacy rate grew from 18.33 per cent in 1951, to 28.30 per cent in 1961, 34.45 per cent in 1971, 43.57 per cent in 1981, 52.21 per cent in 1991, and 64.84per cent in 2001. [28] During the same period, the population grew from 361 million to 1,028 million. [edit] Literacy rate variations between states The literacy rates of different Indian states in 1981 and 2001. Main article: Indian states ranking by literacy rate Kerala is the most literate state in India, with 94.59% literacy,[29] followed closely by Mizoram at 88.80%. Bihar is the least literate state in India with 47% literacy. Several other social indicators of the two states are correlated with these rates, such as life expectancy at birth (71.61 for males and 75 for females in Kerala, 65.66 for males and 64.79 for females in Bihar), infant mortality per 1,000 live births (10 in Kerala, 61 in Bihar), birth rate per 1,000 people (16.9 in Kerala, 30.9 in Bihar) and death rate per 1,000 people (6.4 in Kerala, 7.9 in Bihar).[30] Every census since 1881 had indicated rising literacy in the country, but the population growth rate had been high enough that the absolute number of illiterates rose with every decade. The 1991-2001 decade is the first census period when the absolute number of Indian illiterates declined (by 32 million), indicating that the literacy growth rate is now outstripping the population growth rate.[31] Bihar, Nagaland and Manipur were the only states in the 1991-2001 period where the absolute number of illiterates rose, although even there the percentage of illiterates fell.[31] Bihar was the only remaining Indian state in the 2001 census where the majority of the population (53%) was illiterate. It was also the only state where less than 60% of the male population was literate.[32] Six Indian states account for about 70% of all illiterates in India: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.[32] Slightly less than half of all Indian illiterates (48.12%) are in the six Hindi-speaking states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.[32] Large variations in literacy exist even between contiguous states. While there are a few states at the top and bottom, most states are just above or below the national average.](http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs452.snc4/49622_100001487688141_237_q.jpg) | Literacy in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Literacy rates (by district) in India.
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress,[1] and the Indian literacy rate grew to 68% in 2007 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947.[2][3] According to the latest survey by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in June 2008, the literacy rate among the population with age 7 and above was 72% whereas the adult population (age 15 and above) had a literacy rate of 66%. [4]
Although this was a greater than fivefold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%,[5] and India currently has the largest illiterate population of any nation on earth.[6] Despite government programs, India's literacy rate increased only "sluggishly,"[7] and a 1990 study estimated that it would take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of progress.[8] The 2001 census, however, indicated a 1991-2001 decadal literacy growth of 12.63%, which is the fastest-ever on record.[9]
There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate in India: adult (15+ years) literacy rates in 2009 were 76.9% for men and 54.5% for women.[10] The low female literacy rate has had a dramatically negative impact on family planning and population stabilization efforts in India. Studies have indicated that female literacy is a strong predictor of the use of contraception among married Indian couples, even when women do not otherwise have economic independence.[11] The census provided a positive indication that growth in female literacy rates (14.38%) was substantially faster than in male literacy rates (11.13%) in the 1991-2001 decadal period, which means the gender gap appears to be narrowing.[9]Contents [hide]
1 Comparative literacy statistics
2 Growth of literacy
2.1 The British Period
2.2 Post Independence
3 Literacy rate variations between states
4 Learnings from state literacy efforts in India
4.1 Bihar literacy challenges
4.2 Kerala literacy successes
4.3 Himachal Pradesh literacy successes
4.4 Mizoram literacy successes
4.5 Tamil Nadu literacy successes
4.6 Rajasthan literacy successes
5 Social commentary
6 Literacy efforts
6.1 Government schemes
6.1.1 National Literacy Mission
6.1.2 Sarva Siksha Abhiyan
6.1.3 Mid-day Meal Scheme
6.2 Non-governmental efforts
6.2.1 Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation
7 Definition of literacy
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
[edit]
Comparative literacy statistics
About 35% of world's illiterate population is Indian and, based on historic patterns of literacy growth across the world, India may account for a majority of the world's illiterates by 2020.[12][13]
The table below shows the adult and youth literacy rates for India and some neighbouring countries in 2002.[14] Adult literacy rate is based on the 15+ years age group, while Youth literacy rate is for the 15–24 years age group (i.e. youth is a subset of adults).Country Adult Literacy Rate Youth Literacy Rate
China 93.3% (2007) [15] 98.9% (2004)[16]
Sri Lanka 90.8 (2007) 98.0
Burma 89.9% (2007) [17] 94.4% (2004)[18]
Iran 82.4% (2007) [19] 95% (2002)[20]
World Average 84% (1998)[5] 88% (2001)[21]
India 66.0% (2007)[3] 82% (2001)[3]
Nepal 56.5 (2007) 62.7
Pakistan 54.2 (2007)[22] 53.9
Bangladesh 53.5 (2007) 49.7
[edit]
Growth of literacy
[edit]
The British Period
Literacy in India grew very slowly until independence in 1947. An acceleration in the rate of literacy growth occurred in the 1991-2001 period.
During the British period, literacy grew tardily. Between 1881-82 and 1946-47, the number of primary schools grew from 82,916 to 134,866 and the number of students grew from 2,061,541 to 10,525,943. Literacy rates in British India rose from 3.2 per cent in 1881 to 7.2 per cent in 1931 and 12.2 per cent in 1947.[2]
In 2000-01, there were 60,840 pre-primary and pre-basic schools, and 664,041 primary and junior basic schools.[23] Total enrollment at the primary level has increased from 19,200,000 in 1950-51 to 109,800,000 in 2001-02.[24] The number of high schools in 2000-01 was higher than the number of primary schools at the time of independence.[2][23]
In 1944, the Government of British India presented a plan, called the Sergeant Scheme for the educational reconstruction of India, with a goal of producing 100% literacy in the country within 40 years, i.e. by 1984.[25] Although the 40 year time-frame was derided at the time by leaders of the Indian independence movement as being too long a period to achieve universal literacy,[25] India had only just crossed the 64% level by the 2001 census.
[edit]
Post Independence
The provision of universal and compulsory education for all children in the age group of 6-14 was a cherished national ideal and had been given overriding priority by incorporation as a Directive Policy in Article 45 of the Constitution, but it is still to be achieved more than half a century since the Constitution was adopted in 1949. Parliament has passed the Constitution 86th Amendment Act, 2002, to make elementary education a Fundamental Right for children in the age group of 6–14 years.[26] In order to provide more funds for education, an education cess of 2 per cent has been imposed on all direct and indirect central taxes through the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004.[27]
Since independence, the literacy rate grew from 18.33 per cent in 1951, to 28.30 per cent in 1961, 34.45 per cent in 1971, 43.57 per cent in 1981, 52.21 per cent in 1991, and 64.84per cent in 2001. [28] During the same period, the population grew from 361 million to 1,028 million.
[edit]
Literacy rate variations between states
The literacy rates of different Indian states in 1981 and 2001.
Main article: Indian states ranking by literacy rate
Kerala is the most literate state in India, with 94.59% literacy,[29] followed closely by Mizoram at 88.80%. Bihar is the least literate state in India with 47% literacy. Several other social indicators of the two states are correlated with these rates, such as life expectancy at birth (71.61 for males and 75 for females in Kerala, 65.66 for males and 64.79 for females in Bihar), infant mortality per 1,000 live births (10 in Kerala, 61 in Bihar), birth rate per 1,000 people (16.9 in Kerala, 30.9 in Bihar) and death rate per 1,000 people (6.4 in Kerala, 7.9 in Bihar).[30]
Every census since 1881 had indicated rising literacy in the country, but the population growth rate had been high enough that the absolute number of illiterates rose with every decade. The 1991-2001 decade is the first census period when the absolute number of Indian illiterates declined (by 32 million), indicating that the literacy growth rate is now outstripping the population growth rate.[31] Bihar, Nagaland and Manipur were the only states in the 1991-2001 period where the absolute number of illiterates rose, although even there the percentage of illiterates fell.[31]
Bihar was the only remaining Indian state in the 2001 census where the majority of the population (53%) was illiterate. It was also the only state where less than 60% of the male population was literate.[32] Six Indian states account for about 70% of all illiterates in India: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.[32] Slightly less than half of all Indian illiterates (48.12%) are in the six Hindi-speaking states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.[32]
Large variations in literacy exist even between contiguous states. While there are a few states at the top and bottom, most states are just above or below the national average. |
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