Youthforce
Mera Bharat Mahan
India has been the land of most momentous literary works since ancient times and continues to show its significance even today. However, not all are privileged to create any work of literature and that is not because of lack of passion for writing but because one is ignorant of the letters of the alphabets.
Illiteracy is the basic cause of sluggish development of our nation. India managed to reach a 67% literacy rate in 2007 which is far behind the world’s average rate of literacy, 84%. There also exists a wide gender gap in the literacy rate of India. It was found in 2009 that 76.9% of males and 54.5% of women are literate in India. 35% of the world’s entire illiterate population comprises of Indians. This indeed is a statistic that is shameful for all Indians. Rate of growth of literacy in British India was quite slow.
Post independence growth rate was still better though it wasn’t very impressive. With a remarkable 90.92% of literates Kerala is the most literate state in India whereas Bihar with 47% literate is the least literate state. Several states have shown progress in the field of education and have been on toes to improve educational standards. Some of the states have done a lot to ensure implementation of government schemes like National Literacy Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, etc which aim to eradicate illiteracy. The majority of India’s illiterates dwell in rural areas which are the less developed regions of the country. Various social and economic barriers prevent the spread of education to every household. Complete eradication of illiteracy is a matter of time but a small step by an individual with an intention of spreading education among one and all may be a huge leap for mankind. Anybody who can read, write, compute and one who can apply his learning in day-to-day life will be considered ‘literate’.
Illiteracy is the basic cause of sluggish development of our nation. India managed to reach a 67% literacy rate in 2007 which is far behind the world’s average rate of literacy, 84%. There also exists a wide gender gap in the literacy rate of India. It was found in 2009 that 76.9% of males and 54.5% of women are literate in India. 35% of the world’s entire illiterate population comprises of Indians. This indeed is a statistic that is shameful for all Indians. Rate of growth of literacy in British India was quite slow.
Post independence growth rate was still better though it wasn’t very impressive. With a remarkable 90.92% of literates Kerala is the most literate state in India whereas Bihar with 47% literate is the least literate state. Several states have shown progress in the field of education and have been on toes to improve educational standards. Some of the states have done a lot to ensure implementation of government schemes like National Literacy Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, etc which aim to eradicate illiteracy. The majority of India’s illiterates dwell in rural areas which are the less developed regions of the country. Various social and economic barriers prevent the spread of education to every household. Complete eradication of illiteracy is a matter of time but a small step by an individual with an intention of spreading education among one and all may be a huge leap for mankind. Anybody who can read, write, compute and one who can apply his learning in day-to-day life will be considered ‘literate’.
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