Gender Disparity in Literacy: District Level Analysis of Rajasthan

Literacy is the main key factor of development in the society. It creates an important input in overall development of individual and enables them to realize their socio, economic, political responsibility. In India, the overall literacy rate is 74.04 percent whereas male and female literacy rate is 82.14 percent and 65.46 percent respectively. It shows that more than one-fourth of the country’s population is still illiterate and also highlights a slow rate of growth of female literacy compared with male literacy. The male female literacy gap is approximately 16 percent (Census, 2011). The problem of illiteracy, particular in women, is a big issue of concern not only in India but also across the world and this directly impact development efforts (Katiyar, 2016). There are huge disparities in the social, economic, cultural and schooling opportunities available to men and women in India. Amongst all states, Rajasthan is considered a state with low sex ratio and a huge gender disparity in literacy. It comprises 33 districts and the ISOCODE given by International Organisation for Standardization for this state is RJ. The population recorded according to the 2011 census stands about 68 million with sex ratio 921 per 1000. The literacy rate in Rajasthan, as per 2011 census is about 66.11 percent, whereas male and female literacy is 79.19 percent and 52.12 percent respectively. The average literacy rate at urban level is 79.68 percent, in which male and female literacy is 87.91 and 63.81 percent respectively. In addition, the rural average literacy is 61.44 percent, whereas male and female stood 76.16 and 42.20 percent respectively (Census, 2011). Literacy is a multidimensional concept and plays a very important role to eliminate gender disparity at all level. The present study is an attempt to investigate the gender disparity in literacy at district level in rural as well as urban areas of Rajasthan. Sopher’s method (1974) is applied to find the district level rural-urban gender disparity in literacy index for Rajasthan. This study is considered unique in nature to find out rural urban gender disparity gap in literacy at district level. The results of the study may be supportive in formulation and operation of literacy programmes at district level in Rajasthan.