Background
The 2001 Census revealed that there were 304 million illiterates in the country, of which 44 million were in the 7-14 age group and the remaining in the 15+ age group. The target for literacy has been re-set to 85% under the 11th FYP(Five Year Plan). This would require a 15 percentage point increase, which, if achieved, would represent the highest increase in any decade. To achieve this target, focused attention will be given to the target age group of 15-35. The target for the basic literacy programme for the 15-35 age group is 50 million. Besides basic literacy, 120 million neo-literates are targeted for participation in LEAP (Lifelong Education and Awareness Programmes). The overall target population for adult education in the Eleventh FYP (Five Year Plan) is 170 million.
The national literacy rate for males in 2001 was more than 20 percentage points higher than the female rate. Urban rates for both male and female are considerably higher than national female literacy rates. Less than half of rural females are literate. The extent of the disparities can be illustrated by comparing the urban male rate of 79.9% with the rural female rate of 46.1%, a difference of 33.8 percentage points. A comparison of the female literacy rates of some of the most deprived areas with the urban male rates would reveal an even more stark disparity. Although the gap between the educationally advanced and disadvantaged states has been narrowing over the years, inter139 state and intra-state disparities still continue. Gender and geographical disparities in literacy persist and bridging these disparities is envisaged to be the prime focus of NLM in the Eleventh FYP. In addition to focusing on female literacy, the NLM will also concentrate on a number of special focus areas and groups.
Source: Asia and the Pacific Education for All (EFA) Mid-Decade Assessment, SOUTH AISA, Synthesis Report ©UNESCO 2009
| Quick Facts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Literacy Rate (15 years and over) | Youth Literacy Rate (15-24 years) | |||
| 2001 | 2006 | 2001 | 2006 | |
| Total | 61.0 | 62.8 | 76.4 | 81.1 |
| Male | 73.4 | 75.2 | 84.2 | 88.4 |
| Female | 47.8 | 50.8 | 67.7 | 74.4 |
Source: Integrated living conditions households survey, 2009/ Population census, 2002/ UIS estimation, 2000-2004/ Population census, 1998/ Population census, 2010/ Survey of living standards, 2001&2007/ Population census, 2009/ Population census, 2000/ RMI Demographic and health survey, 2007/ Demographic and health survey (final report), 2007/ Demographic and health survey, 2006-2007/ MDG Report, 2006/ Population census (UIS) & estimation from UN population, 1979 and National risk and vulnerability assessment, 2007-2008/ Living standard survey, 2003