Towards a more enlightened tomorrow

Ankita Chakrabarty/Zee Research Group New Delhi: Of all the 640 districts in the country, only two districts spread across India have recorded a negative performance both in regard to male and female literacy levels during the last one decade. On the other hand Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh performed the best this decade in bridging the male and female literacy level. A district-by-district study of the literacy trends in India derived from comparing census results from 2011 identified these districts as Barmer in Rajasthan and Uttar Bastar Kanker in Chattisgarh. Twin districts of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Kottayam in Kerala showed a decline in male literacy growth rate in 2011. These two districts, however, registered positive growth in female literacy levels during the last one decade.Barmer district of Rajasthan recorded a decline in male literacy rate from 72.76 per cent in 2001 to 72.32 per cent in 2011. Also the female literacy rate showed a decline from 43.45 per cent in 2001to 41.03 percent in the year 2011. Similarly, Uttar Bastar Kanker district of Chattisgarh showed a decline in male literacy rate from 82.72 percent in 2001 to 80.98 percent in 2011.The female literacy rate of this district got reduced from 63.25 percent in 2001 to 61.08 percent in 2011. Hyderabad district of Andhra Pradesh recorded a decline in male literacy rate from 83.74 per cent in 2001 to 83.35 per cent in 2011. Also, Kottayam district of Kerala recorded a decline in male literacy rate from 97.34 per cent in 2001 to 97.17 per cent in 2011. The 2011 census, however, is yet to release district wise data on Sikkim, Nagaland, and the Union territory of Lakshadweep. Professor Bhagwan Singh Josh, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said, “It is not difficult to explain the decline in literacy rates in districts of states like Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. Lack of awareness and ideological backwardness in these districts contributes to low literacy rate.” Manisha Singh, spokesperson, Smile Foundation India, an education focus nongovernmental organization (NGO), identified poverty as the main reason behind decline in literacy rate in these regions. Moreover, she also opined that people were not able to meet the basic necessities of life, i.e. food, clothing and shelter in these regions and therefore fulfilment of education became secondary for them. The latest census also recorded further narrowing of the gap between male and female literacy rate pegged at 16.6 per cent as against 21.59 during 2001. Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh recorded the gap from21.88 per cent in 2001to 6.74 per cent in 2011. Upper Subansiri of Arunachal Pradesh reduced the gap from 18.85percent in 2001 to 6.85percent in 2011. Kheda district of Gujarat also fared better reducing the male female literacy gap from 29.17 percent in 2001 to 18.73 percent in 2011.In so far as worst performance in female literacy is concerned, the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram recorded a decline of 3.34 per cent in female literacy rate in 2011. Dhalai district of Tripura emerged the best performing district in female literacy rate. The district has shown an improvement of 29.84 per cent in female literacy rate in the year 2011. Dhalai is followed by Kishanganj district of Bihar which has shown an improvement of 29.35 percent in 2011.Also district Kurung Kumey of Arunachal Pradesh recorded an improvement of approximately 26. 86 per cent followed by Garhwa district of Jharkhand which recorded a rise of 26.56 percent in female literacy rate. T.K Mathew, chief executive, Deepalaya Foundation, an education NGO, opined, “The state government schemes like the provision of bicycles for the girls in Bihar have contributed a lot in improving the literacy level.” With respect to male literacy rate, districts of North Eastern states have fared better. Kurung Kumey , one of the districts of Arunachal Pradesh has recorded the highest improvement in male literacy rate with 23.20percent increase followed by Dhalai district of Tripura and Garhwa district of Jharkhand which has recorded an increase of 22.25percent and 19.64percent in male literacy rate in 2011. Professor Josh at JNU reasoned, “The rise in literacy rate in North Eastern States is mainly attributed to the work done by Christian Missionaries. They have been successful in creating awareness among the people over there.” In Maharashtra, Gadchiroli observed the best growth level in female literacy as it improved there from 48.07 per cent in 2001 to 66.06 per cent in 2011. Also in male literacy the district witnessed a male literacy level of 80.21 per cent as against 71.86 per cent in 2001. Hingoli district did well in regard to bridging the male female literacy level by reducing the gap from 29.54 per cent in 2001 to 22 per cent in 2011. BETTER PERFORMING DISTRICTS (RISE IN MALE LITERACY RATE IN 2011)

NAME OF THE DISTRICT	STATE	RISE IN LITERACY RATE
KURUNG KUMEY	ARUNCHAL PRADESH	23.20%
DHALAI	TRIPURA	22.25%
GARHWA	JHARKHAND	19.64%

BETTER PERFORMING DISTRICTS (RISE IN FEMALE LITERACY RATE IN 2011)

NAME OF THE DISTRICT	STATE	RISE IN LITERACY RATE
DHALAI	TRIPURA	29.84%
KISHANGANJ	BIHAR	29.36%
KURUNG KUMEY	ARUNACHAL PRADESH	26.86%

WORST PERFORMER DISTRICTS WITH RESPECT TO DECLINE IN MALE LITERCAY RATE IN 2011.

NAME OF THE DISTRICT	STATE	DECLINE IN LITERACY RATE
BARMER	RAJASTHAN	0.44%
UTTAR BASTAR KANKER	CHATTISGARH	1.74%

WORST PERFORMER DISTRICTS WITH RESPECT TO   DECLINE IN FEMALE LITERCAY RATE IN 2011.

NAME OF THE DISTRICT	STATE	DECLINE IN LITERACY RATE
LAWNGTLAI	MIZORAM	3.34%
BARMER	RAJASTHAN	2.42%
UTTAR BASTAR KANKER	CHATTISGARH	2.17%