According to the provisional data released of the 2011 Census, effective literacy rate of India has improved to 74.4%, a rise of 9.2% from 64.8% in 2001(guys listen... The Indian Census is done once in ten years, (see for more info http://www.censusindia.gov.in/). One of the positives about this is the sharp rise in the number of literate women as compared to men. While the effective literacy rate for males rose from 75.26 in 2001 to 82.1 percent this year, a rise of 6.9%, it increased by 11.8% for the women to go from 53.67% in 2001 to 65.46% in 2011. But we are far below the World average of 84%. Kerala stands on the top among states with 93.91% and Bihar at the bottom with 63.82%.
Literacy is the ability of a person to read and write with understanding in any language as per the Census India operation. In addition to reading and writing, the Mass literacy programs in India, aims at imparting some basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). But this definition is very basic in the sense that advanced forms of thinking like comparing, reasoning, analyzing, interpreting skills do not come into the picture here. Nowadays literacy has acquired a broader meaning and refers to all kinds of knowledge and the possibility of accessing it to meaningful use. In this sense knowing the price of vegetables and seeing through the price differences to derive comparative advantage out of a purchase is also an application of literacy that one has acquired.
Reading and writing is definitely important and a doorway into the understanding of the working of organized social life. But the use value of literacy requires further more resources at the disposal of the literate. The literate we are talking about here is introduced to concepts like state, citizenship, equal rights, and duties through education. But unless he/she has access to different forms of media (print media, visual media, internet) the implications of the concepts mentioned will escape him. It is really important to be aware of how different people are using their literacy in absolutely diverse ways to highlight the issues close to their heart in a manner appropriate to their selves. This awareness is essential and it encourages application of knowledge, of literacy. Then the question of access to the fourth estate (the press) thus is significant in educating masses to process their literacy. One has to note here that the success of literacy depends upon so many factors than just access to education(the press as one among the many resources required for true literacy).
to be continued...
Excellent first post, Satchin.
ReplyDeleteYou begin by relating some key statistics. In one way literacy is a matter of statistics, agreed. These are measurements that help discover where there are problems in societies, such as between locations or racial groups or religions, etc. By the statistics, Kerala is one of the top states. And people all over India recognize that.
Now, beyond the statistics you relate some important things, also. That being literate is not only reading and writing of the alphabet or our names; it is something greater. State, citizenship, rights, duties. Being literate is being active in a community to create these things. And success, as you say, depends on so much.
Perhaps a good place to begin is locally. What is literacy in this community of Kasaragod, which boasts 7 languages, multiple religions, non-veg and veg eaters, all living together?
Interesting thoughts.
interseting writing,.. got some fresh info..
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