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Himachal Pradesh as ‘Fully Literate State’
Context: On International Literacy Day, Himachal Pradesh has been declared a ‘Fully Literate State,’ achieving a significant milestone well ahead of schedule.
Why is literacy significant for India’s multidimensional development?
Literacy is not merely the ability to read and write; it is the fundamental catalyst for holistic and multidimensional development:
- Economic Growth: According to the World Bank, one additional year of schooling can increase an individual’s earnings by 8-10%, and a 1% increase in literacy rates can lead to a 2.5% increase in labor productivity.
- Social Empowerment: The rise of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) like Kudumbashree in Kerala is directly linked to female literacy.
- Health and Well-being: Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is significantly lower in high-literacy states. For instance, Kerala (IMR of 6) and Himachal Pradesh (IMR of 21) outperform the national average (IMR of 27).
- Democratic Participation: The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 is a powerful tool for accountability, to be harnessed by literate and aware citizens.
- Technological Adoption: The PMGDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan) scheme aims to make 6 crore rural adults digitally literate.
What are the major factors that hinder the achievement of universal literacy?
Despite concerted efforts like the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the goal of 100% literacy remains elusive due to deep-rooted, interconnected challenges:
- Socio-Economic Barriers: According to the Census 2011, there were over 10 million child laborers in India aged between 5-14. Many of these children are denied schooling.
- Gender Disparity: The 2011 Census recorded the male literacy rate at 82% while the female literacy rate was 65%—a gap of ~17 percentage points.
- Geographical Inaccessibility: In the remote tribal hamlets of Odisha’s Naxal-affected districts or the seasonal islands (Chars) of Assam, setting up permanent schools with trained teachers is a monumental challenge.
- Quality of Education: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 revealed that only ~40% of Std VIII students could read a Std II level text.
- Social Inequalities: The dropout rate at the secondary level (Class 9-10) for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is 18% and for Scheduled Castes (SCs) is 15%, significantly higher than the national average of 12% (UDISE+ 2021-22).
What key factors have contributed to states like Himachal Pradesh achieving full literacy?
The success of states like Himachal Pradesh and Kerala can be attributed to a multi-faceted approach:
- Political Will and Policy Continuity: Successive governments, regardless of political party, consistently prioritised education, ensuring steady funding and policy implementation.
- Investment in School Infrastructure: A strong focus on building a dense network of schools, even in remote and sparsely populated hilly areas, ensured no child was left behind due to distance.
- High Priority on Teacher Quality: Himachal boasts one of the best student-teacher ratios in India. This ensures personalised attention and improves learning outcomes.
- Social Mobilisation and Community Participation: High levels of community awareness and parental motivation regarding the value of education created a strong demand for schooling. The involvement of women and local bodies was crucial.
- Effective Implementation of Central Schemes: The state effectively leveraged national missions like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and adult literacy programs like ULLAS to bolster its own efforts.
