Rural Males educated up to the Primary Level: At the national aggregative level only 13.15 per cent of the rural males are educated up to the primary level. This, however, is the national average and the inter-district variations are quite pronounced (Appendix 8.19).
Less than one-tenth of the population is educated up to the primary level in more than one-third of the districts. The districts falling under the highest category are concentrated in Kerala, Karnataka and Orissa. High category districts are scattered over southern Uttar Pradesh, western Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and the adjacent areas of Orissa and West Bengal. It is significant to note that the districts in Orissa have a high percentage of population educated up to the primary level. On the other hand, the districts with low percentages are to be found in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, southern Punjab, Rajasthan, Western Gujarat, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, south-eastern Madhya Pradesh and the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh (Fig. 8.11).
Evidently, the regions with low educational levels are the regions with a low level of development, Orissa being an exception. The case of Gujarat is equally exceptional as its districts show a low level of education.
Urban Males educated up to the Primary Level: Situation in the urban areas improves marginally as the percentage of population educated up to the primary level increases to 15.71. However, more than 21.32 per cent of the population is educated up to the primary level in 28 districts (Appendix 8.20).
Fig. 8.11 shows that the districts with low percentages form a compact region encompassing the districts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, southeastern Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. On the other hand, the districts with a share of more than 21.32 per cent are situated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Of the 27 districts falling under this category 17 are in those two states. The districts in which the proportion of male population educated up to the primary level varies between 17.04 and 21.32 per cent form three pockets. The first incorporates the districts in eastern Gujarat and the western and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra, the second comprises the districts in Andhra Pradesh (excluding Telangana) and the adjacent districts of Tamil Nadu and the third is in the Assam valley. The districts falling under the moderate category are in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, western Rajasthan, western Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh excluding south-eastern region, West Bengal, Telangana and Karnataka.
504 School Education in India
Rural Females educated up to the Primary Level: The educational levels of women in the rural areas are considerably low, which is evident from the fact that at the national aggregative level only 5.77 per cent of them are educated up to the primary level. It is further evident from Appendix 8.21 that in as many as 141 districts the percentage is below 2.89. Fig. 8.12 reveals that these districts encompass Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, southern Orissa, Telangana and the adjacent region of Karnataka. On the other hand, the districts falling under the high categories are concentrated in Punjab, coastal Karnataka, Kerala, coastal Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
Urban Females educated up to the Primary Level: At the national aggregative level only 13.01 per cent of the urban women are educated up to the primary level. However, significant inter-district variations are observed (Appendix 8.22). Fig. 8.12 shows that the districts in Kerala have the highest proportion of women educated up to the primary level. There are 90 districts in the high percentage category forming three segments in Fig. 8.12: (a) West Coast region, Vidarbha, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; (b) West Bengal, Assam valley and Arunachal Pradesh; and (c) Punjab. The districts in the hilly region of Uttar Pradesh and the peninsular interior fall under the medium category. Percentages are low in the districts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.
Rural Males educated up to the Middle Level: Only 6.0 per cent of the rural males arc educated up to the middle level. This all-India generalization, however, loses its meaning when one notices that in as many as 121 districts less than 4.23 per cent males belong to this privileged class (Appendix 8.23).
Fig. 8.13 gives the following generalizations:
1. The districts with high percentages are found in Maharashtra, low land Orissa, deltaic West Bengal, Bihar plains and the states in the north-east; 2. The districts with low percentages form segments in the districts of Rajasthan, Orissa, Telangana and northern Karnataka. Urban Males educated up to the Middle Level: The male population educated up to the middle level accounts for 13.08 per cent of the urban population. The proportion of the males educated up to the middle level is twice that in rural areas. Inter-district variations are quite pronounced in Appendix 8.24.
Fig. 8.13 reveals that the male population in the districts of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the interior Karnataka is characterized by poor educational attainment. On the other hand, the proportion of the population educated up to the middle level is high in Haryana, Kerala, Orissa, Bihar and the north-east.
Rural Females educated up to the Middle Level: The situation of the rural females is dismal as only 1.67 per cent of them are reported to be educated up to the middle level. The fact
Utility 505
that in as many as 135 districts the percentage is below 0.68 makes the situation further grim (Appendix 8.25). The following patterns are discernible on Fig. 8.14.
1. The districts with high percentage are situated along the West Coast and in Vidarbha, southern Karnataka and the states in the north-cast.
2. The districts with low percentages are situated in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, highland Orissa and northern Karnataka.
3. The districts with medium percentages are in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Doab, Bihar, West Bengal, northern Orissa, the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Urban Females educated up to the Middle Level: The percentage of the ubran women educated up to the middle level is 8.41. There is significant departure from the national average (Appendix 8.26). The proportion of educated females is particularly low in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and the interior Andhra Pradesh (Fig. 8.14). As in the case of other variables, the position of the districts along the West Coast, as well as in deltaic West Bengal and the north-east is fairly satisfactory.
Rural Males educated up to the Matriculation Level: At the national agrcegative level only 2.70 per cent as the male population in rural areas is educated up to the matriculation level. It is signficant to note that the inter-district variations are not pronounced as is evident from Appendix 8.27 (Fig. A.15).
Urban Males educated up to the Matriculation Level: The proportion of the male population educated up to the matriculation level is higher in urban areas-13.25 per cent-than in rural areas (Appendix 8.28). Fig. 8.15 makes it evidently clear that the situation is highly uneven and there is no discernible geographical pattern.
Rural Females educated up to the Matriculation Level: As expected the rural women are found at the lowest stratum (Appendix 8.29). Fig. 8.16 shows that, although the overall situation is grim, a number of districts in Punjab, the coastal region of Karnataka and Kerala show a slight improvement. The districts in western Rajasthan, the Chhatisgarh region of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa highlands touch the abysmal level.
Urban Females educated up to the Matriculation Level: With the national average of 5.75 per cent urban women show a slight improvement (Appendix 8.30). Fig. 8.16 shows the following patterns: 1. Districts in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, eastern Gujarat, coastal Karnataka and Kerala are above the national average. 2. The districts of Rajasthan, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, interior Karnataka, the desh and Vidarbha are below the national average.
506 School Education in India
Graduates and Above: The population educated up to the level of graduation and above, infinitesimal as it is, has striking sex and rural-urban differences. Admittedly, the national averages themselves are pitiably low. Only 3.39 per cent of the urban males could reach this level-the corresponding figures for the urban women being 1.16 per cent. So far as the rural segment of population is concerned the males have an edge over the females. Only 4 out of 10,000 rural women attain a level which is equivalent to graduation or above it. These facts are summarized in the following table:
Rural Males 0.29 per cent
Rural Females 0.04 per cent
Urban Males 3.39 per cent
Urban Females 1.16 per cent
Appendices 8.31, 8.32 and 8.33; and Fig. 8.17 and 8.18 present the situation in a nutshell. Generally speaking, the districts of Rajasthan and peninsular interior reveal a poor situation. Even Tamil Nadu presents a dismal picture, at least in the case of the urban segment of the population. Districts in north India show a comparatively high proportion of graduation. It may be due to the mushroom growth of institutions of higher education in the northern states.
SUMMING UP The analysis of the indicators of utility reveals that, despite all- round efforts to make education a vital input in economic development, the situation is far from satisfactory. This is not to say that education is not capable of meeting the challenge, but the 'state of art' is such that the perceived objectives are difficult to achieve. What can be more puzzling than the fact that about 63 per cent of the workers are illiterate. About two-thirds of the cultivators, who constitute the backbone of Indian agriculture, are also illiterate. Even in the manufacturing sector about one-third of the workforce is illiterate and only 2.83 per cent have reached the level of graduation and above.
The analysis is reveals a broad correspondence between the areas with low educational levels of the workforce and the backward areas of the country. This provides scope for inducing, on a priority basis, the process of educational development in those regions of the country which are characteristically backward.
If we look at the educational levels of the population, it is noted that in rural areas only 0.29 per cent of the male population has reached the graduation level. The proportion of women is as low as 0.04 per cent. It has far reaching implications in the context of the ongoing debate on 'access to higher education.' A considerably low proportion of population with high educational attainment forces one to argue that higher education should be expanded in the rural areas in recognition of the fact that education is an asset in human resource development. This, however, is negated by the fact that those who attain high levels of education, get absorbed in the service sector and thus contribute very little to the process of production. This calls for moulding the structure of education in such a way that the quality of the working component in India's population is improved.
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Utility 525
Appendix 8.1
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF DISTRICTS BY CATEGORIES
OF LEVELS OF EDUCATION AMONG THE WORKERS
CULTIVATIONS
1971
Sl. State/Union Categories Total
No. Territory Very High High Medium Low
1. Andhra Pradesh - 4 9 8 21
2. Assam - 3 4 2 9
3. Bihar 2 6 7 2 17
4. Gujarat - 3 7 9 19
5. Haryana - 1 5 1 7
6. Himachal Pradesh - - 1 9 10
7. Jammu and Kashmir - - - 10 10
8. Karnataka 4 6 9 - 19
9. Kerala 10 - - - 10
10. Madhya Pradesh 1 2 19 21 43
11. Maharashtra 2 6 16 2 26
12. Manipur - - 1 4 5
13. Meghalaya - - - 1 1
14. Nagaland - - - 3 3
15. Orissa 1 3 8 1 13
16. Punjab - 4 7 - 11
17. Rajasthan - - 1 25 26
18. Sikkim - - - 4 4
19. Tamil Nadu 2 4 6 2 14
20. Tripura - - - 1 1
21. Uttar Pradesh - 7 30 17 54
22. West Bengal 3 4 9 - 16
23. Andaman and Nicobar - - 1 - 1
Islands
24. Arunachal Pradesh - - - 5 5
25. Chandigarh - 1 - - 1
26. Dadra and Nagar - - - 1 1
Haveli
27. Delhi - 1 - - 1
28. Goa, Daman and Diu - 1 - 2 3
29. Lakshadweep - - - 1 1
30. Mizoram - 1 - - 1
31. Pondicherry 3 1 - - 4
All India 28 58 140 131 357
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Appendix 8.2
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF DISTRICTS BY CATEGORIES
OF LEVELS OF EDUCATION AMONG THE WORKERS
AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS
1971
Sl. State/Union Categories Total
No. Territory Very High High Medium Low
1. Andhra Pradesh - 1 6 15 21
2. Assam 1 3 5 - 9
3. Bihar - - 6 11 17
4. Gujarat - 1 9 9 19
5. Haryana - 2 4 1 7
6. Himachal Pradesh - 1 7 2 10
7. Jammu and Kashmir - - 7 3 10
8. Karnataka - 7 10 2 19
9. Kerala 8 1 1 - 10
10. Madhya Pradesh - - 14 29 43
11. Maharashtra 2 6 16 2 26
12. Manipur 2 2 1 - 5
13. Meghalaya* - - 1 - 1
14. Nagaland 1 1 1 - 3
15. Orissa 1 5 6 1 13
16. Punjab 1 3 5 2 11
17. Rajasthan - - 9 17 26
18. Sikkim - 2 2 - 4
19. Tamil Nadu 2 3 9 - 14
20. Tripura* - 1 - - 1
21. Uttar Pradesh 2 4 28 20 54
22. West Bengal 1 3 8 4 16
23. Andaman and Nicobar - 1 - - 1
Islands
24. Arunachal Pradesh - - 2 3 5
25. Chandigarh 1 - - - 1
26. Dadra and Nagar - - - 1 1
Haveli
27. Delhi1 1 - - - 1
28. Goa, Daman and Diu - - 1 2 3
29. Lakshadweep - - - 1 1
30. Mizoram * - 1 - - 1
31. Pondicherry 3 1 - - 4
All India 26 48 158 125 357
* State level Data
Utility
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Appendix 8.3
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF DISTRICTS BY CATEGORIES
OF LEVELS OF EDUCATION AMONG THE WORKERS
IN FINISHING FORESTY AND LIVESTOCK FARMING
1971
Sl. State/Union Categories Total
No. Territory Very High High Medium Low
1. Andhra Pradesh - - 2 19 21
2. Assam 1 1 4 3 9
3. Bihar - 3 7 7 17
4. Gujarat - 2 6 11 19
5. Haryana 1 - 4 2 7
6. Himachal Pradesh 4 3 3 - 10
7. Jammu and Kashmir 1 3 3 3 10
8. Karnataka - 2 10 7 19
9. Kerala - 2 8 - 10
10. Madhya Pradesh 1 6 22 14 43
11. Maharashtra - 16 10 - 26
12. Manipur 4 - 1 - 5
13. Meghalaya* - - - 1 1
14. Nagaland 2 1 - - 3
15. Orissa - 2 10 1 13
16. Punjab - 4 4 3 11
17. Rajasthan - - 1 25 26
18. Sikkim - 1 1 2 4
19. Tamil Nadu - - 9 5 14
20. Tripura* - - 1 - 1
21. Uttar Pradesh 2 9 32 11 54
22. West Bengal 1 9 6 - 16
23. Andaman and Nicobar - - 1 - 1
Islands
24. Arunachal Pradesh 1 - - 4 5
25. Chandigarh - 1 - - 1
26. Dadra and Nagar - - 1 - 1
Haveli
27. Delhi - 1 - - 1
28. Goa, Daman and Diu - - 3 - 3
29. Lakshadweep - - - 1 1
30. Mizoram* 1 - - - 1
31. Pondicherry - - 3 1 4
All India 19 66 152 120 357