Greater female literacy and education is recognized across the world as a powerful contributor to women’s empowerment. India has seen significant increase in the overall literacy rates from 18% in 1950s to about 74% in the last decade. However, there is huge gender disparity in literacy that is prevalent in India. While the literacy rate for men is at 80% it is just at 64% for females. Compared with the rest of the world female literacy rate is just at 60% which is 22% less than the global average.
Low literacy rate hinders women’s participation in the workforce which is an important factor for demographic transition (from high to low mortality and fertility rates). According to a 2017 study, lower infant mortality rates have been directly linked to higher education levels of the mothers as can be seen from a regional breakdown of female literacy rates in India. Kerala, the state with the highest female literacy rate (92%), has the lowest infant mortality rate of 10, whereas Bihar and UP with the lowest female literacy rate of 53% and 59% respectively has a high infant mortality rate, 177.5 and 141.2 respectively.
Women’s education also had a greater impact on family planning as observed in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi women show high level of awareness of family planning matters and a much higher use of contraceptives than in India. This has led to a dramatic reduction of fertility in a very short period. No comparable changes can be observed in India. This has happened because 88% of women are literate in Bangladesh as compared to 64% in India. The gains in female education has led to an increase participation of women in the workforce whereas in India female employment has gone backwards from 37% in 2005 to 29% in 2009.
If we want to become 5 trillion economy by 2022 we will have to educate our female population and going by the current progress rate, universal literacy can only be achieved by 2060. It is high time that we work collectively to educate our females and not be shy to ask for help from our neighbors who are performing better than us in bringing gender equality.
International Journal of Research (IJR) 