Over 82 lakh or 83% of the population that is over seven years of age of these are literate
Literacy may be the most encouraging story to have emerged
from the provisional figures of Census 2011. Maharashtra has in the last decade moved
into the elite group of states that record over 80% literacy rates. It now stands
alongside states such as Kerala and Mizoram, which have traditionally been known
for their literate classes.
There has been a remarkable ascent in literacy in India, especially in Maharashtra,
said Dr. P. Arokiasamy of the Deonar-based International Institute for Population
Sciences (IIPS). With 82.91% of its population now knowing how to read and write,
Maharashtra has certainly made progress in the last decade. In Census 2001, only
76.88% of the states residents could be classified as literates. Sceptics, however,
point out that this increase is mainly due to the humble criteria for literacy:
primary education.
In numerical terms, Maharashtras population stands at 11.2 crore. Over 82 lakh or
83% of the population that is over seven years of age of these are literate.
The other highlight of this Census for Maharashtra is the fact that the urban-rural
gap in education has narrowed further. At present, the gap stands at 12.75% with
the urban literate population standing at 89.84% and the rural populace at 77.09%.
This urban-rural gap stood at 15.12% in 2001, pointed out Census India officials.
Dr. Arokiasamy said, until two decades ago, in Maharashtra, only two in every three
males and one in every 3 women were literate. Now, it looks impressive at four in
every five men and two in every three women.
However, Census officials point out that the gender gap is still steep. Although
the overall gap between male and female literacy rate is nearly about 14% points
in the state, this gap is 19% in rural areas and 9% in urban, said an official.
But not all are impressed with Maharashtra’s elevation into the group of India’s
most literate states. S. Parasuraman, director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,
makes a distinction between education and literacy. While literacy has increased,
it doesn’t necessarily mean education has increased. Things are definitely improving
as more people go to school and are retained there thanks to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
programme. However, there is a high drop out at the end of elementary education,
which needs looking into, he said.
Incidentally, there are two reasons
for Maharashtra not registering a better literacy rate. First, there is a sizeable
number of 50-years-plus groups which never went to school. Moreover, there is a
negative population growth resulting in fewer children being born. These two contrasts
are responsible for Maharashtra’s failure to register a better literacy rate, said
Dr. Arokiasamy.
Courtesy: Times of India
