The Universal Declaration of Human Rights issued by the United Nations declares literacy a basic human right. Women education is a big opportunity for India to be developed socially and economically. Educated women are the weapon yielding a positive impact on the Indian society through their contributions at home and professional fields. They are the reason of improved economy in the country as well as the society.
In India, however, 50 per cent of the women cannot read or write. For a country that has had phenomenal growth rates for the last several years, it also has some of the most shocking statistics when it comes to education. If women are uneducated, half of the country is uneducated. Through women education the social and economic development would be faster in India. To spread the importance and improve the level of women education, national propaganda and awareness programmes are very necessary. History of India is never blank of brave women. It is full of women philosophers like Gargi, Viswabara, Maritreyi (of Vedic age) and other famous women are like Mirabai, Durgabati, Ahalyabi, Laxmibai, etc., who are inspiration for the women of this age.
For the betterment of the women education in India, programmes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Indira Mahila Yojana, Balika Samridhi Yojana, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, Mahila Samridhi Yojana, Employment and Income Generating Training-cum-Production Centres are functional. The Government's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samridhi schemes as well as the mandatory maternity leave rules are initiatives to promote the objective of women's rights and empowerment.
Still, there are some factors affecting the women education in India as undernourishment and malnutrition of the girl child, Sexual harassment and abuse at an early age, lower socioeconomic status of parents, infections and low immunity power at childhood and so many social restrictions have become a hindrance in the path of progress among sections of women and forced them to get only limited education.
National literacy in India is currently 64 per cent. According to the UNESCO, India ranks in the bottom five in female literacy next to Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
According to the 2011 Census, the male literacy rate is 82.14% and female literacy rate is only 65.46% in India.
All these statistics certainly reveal the kind of discrimination women have to face in today’s world. Low female literacy rate means an overall sluggish growth of India as it impacts every arena of development.
According to new data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, there are still 750 million illiterate adults, two-thirds of whom are women. These numbers are a stark reminder of the work ahead to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5 and the Education 2030 targets. Despite the progress, gender disparity in youth literacy remains persistent in almost one in five countries. In 43 countries, mainly located in Northern Africa and Western Asia, Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, young women aged 15 to 24 years are still less likely than young men to have basic reading and writing skills. This is a clear sign of the persistent challenges that continue to hold girls back. Educated women are less likely to believe in superstitions and social taboos. They will not let anyone easily dominate them and would fight for their rights. Bias against daughters can only end if women’s education is accompanied by social and economic empowerment.
By acquiring literacy, women become more economically self-reliant and more actively engaged in the country’s social, political and cultural life. All evidence shows that investment in literacy for women yields high development dividends. But denial of autonomy is in itself one of the central problems for Indian women. This problem can’t be addressed by literacy alone; and governments need to address the issue directly.
(Dr Das writes articles on issues of gender equality and women’s issues in national and international dailies. She is the Director, Leadership and Communication of Sustainability Foundation and can be mailed at Subhashree.das1201@gmail.com )