An Outlook of Educational Attainment and Literacy in Rural India: A Case Study

Abstract: In rural India, the socio-economic conditions have largely constrained the process of education and the social inequalities of caste, class and gender have been identified as the major causes of educational deprivation among children in India. A large proportion of children from the economically poor and socially disadvantaged groups, especially girls, are either denied access or are failing to complete even five years of basic education. The goal of universal and compulsory education remains a challenge to achieve even after six decades of independence. The present paper has tried to highlight the various aspects of education and state of literacy in Ambedkarnagar District in North India. Study also examined the rate of literates and illiterates by population and sex in various Community Development Blocks in general and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes' population in particular. The distribution of villages by literacy rate range as well as according to the distance from the nearest statutory town and availability and non-availability of educational facility has also elaborated. This paper has been presented at the International Conference on Education Awareness for Social Sectors Issues in India, organized by Singhania University, India, in collaboration with Bedfordian Business School, Luton, United Kingdom & Toff Institute of Management and Engineering Studies, India during 24 July, 2011.