Woman education in India - Importance & Government Initiatives

Woman education in India – Importance & Government Initiatives

Q. We often hear, “Ekk naari padhegi, saat peedhi taregi”. What advantages does society get from having educated women? What are the various steps taken by the government to support women’s education in the country?

Why does India lag behind in woman education?

1. In traditional Indian society sons are considered as assets while girls are considered as liability so spending on their education is not considered as a priority.

2. As per the traditional Indian society the role of woman in society is only to look after house and children which does not require any schooling.

3. There is concern that if woman is educated, then she will start earning and will become independent which might hurt the ego of a male.

4. The structure of Indian society is patriarchal in which everything revolves around male and woman is reduced to negligible role.

5. In poor families, the girl child has to look after her siblings as well as do household chores so she could not have luxury of money and time to spend on education.

Advantages of woman education

1. Social development

Woman education will help to solve many issues faced by society. Kothari commission of 1968 recommended education as tool for social development. By pacing woman education India can achieve the goal of social development.

2. Gender equality

Woman is part of unprivileged section of society. Education will help to close a gender gap in society. Co-education institutes will help children to give respect to female.

3. Economic productivity

It will bring economic gains not only to woman but will also raise GDP of a nation

4. Reduction in infant mortality

A well educated woman will have more chances of making better decisions for her family's health. Studies have shown that increased literacy among woman will bring down infant mortality rate.

5. Improved living standard

Education will improve chances of employment for a women. A well educated woman has more chances of getting better employment and better standard of living.

5. Inclusive growth of a society

As a developing nation India strives for growth in each sector for all sections of society and education is a way to achieve this goal.

Woman empowerment

Education is powerful tool for woman emancipation and empowerment. For long woman has been deprived of her rights. By educating herself she can achieve a place in society.

Strengthening of democracy

Education will create awareness among woman which will cause increased participation in politics which ultimately leads to strengthening of democracy. They could secure their rights through mobilization.

Government schemes to encourage woman education

1. Sakshar bharat mission for female literacy

Launched in 2008 for promoting adult education especially among woman under which Lok Shiksha Kendras were set up.

2. SABLA-Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

It aims to provide nutrition for growing adolescent girls by provision of food grains.

3. Right To Education

RTE considers education as a fundamental right which will provide free and compulsory education to every child aged between 6 to 14.

4. Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya-

Establishment of residential upper primary schools for girl

5. National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level

It is for reduction in the school dropouts by giving special attention to weak girls. In villages, women’s group are formed. These groups follow up/supervision on girl’s enrollment, attendance.

6. Mahila Sangha

Under this scheme women’s forums (Mahila Sangha) were created. It provides space for rural women to meet, discuss issues, ask questions, make informed choices. It is implemented in ten states.

7. Rahstriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

Infrastructure for girls hostel for secondary education

8. Dhanlakshmi scheme

Conditional money transfer scheme for Girl Child following 3 conditions.

a) At birth and Registration of Birth.
b) Progress of Immunization and Completion of Immunization.
c) Enrollment and Retention in School.