EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION
The policy of the Government
for empowerment and development of women lays emphasis on removal
of women’s illiteracy and obstacles inhibiting their access to
elementary education, women’s participation in vocational, technical
and professional education at different levels. The Government
also lays stress on non-discrimination, thus seeking to eliminate
sex stereotyping in vocational and professional courses. It actively
promotes women’s studies as a part of various courses, and encourages
educational institutions to take up programmes to further women’s
development, and to promote women’s participation in non-traditional
occupations and existing and emerging technologies.
As a result of the measures
taken by the Government, the literacy rate of women has gone up
from 39.3 % in 1991 to 54.16% in 2001. In fact, the increase in
female literacy [by 14.8 percent] outpaced that for male literacy
[11.7 percent]. The gender gap in male-female literacy has also
narrowed from 24.84 percentage points in 1991 to 21.70 percentage
points in 2001. There has been a similar narrowing of the rural-urban
literacy gap among women. [This level was 33.43 percentage points
in 1991 and has come down to 26.41 percentage points in 2001].
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the
flagship programme for universalisation of elementary education
has special focus on disadvantaged groups including the girl child.
In addition, the mid-day meal scheme has also improved girls’
enrolment and retention in primary school.
The proposed scheme of Kasturba
Gandhi Swatantrata Vidyalaya of residential schools for girls
would also support universalisation of elementary education for
girls.
Mahila Samakhya, a women’s
education and empowerment programme being implemented in about
9000 villages in six states mobilizes and organises women in groups
called ‘sanghas’, and through education makes them aware of their
rights.
Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment is also implementing schemes of residential schools
for scheduled caste girls in areas of very low literacy, and award
of scholarships to SC/ST students with special emphasis on girls.
The University Grants Commission
has a number of schemes for promoting women’s education under
which the following are provided for: i- setting up of Centres
and Cells for women studies; ii- technology courses for women
in women universities for undergraduate courses in engineering
and technology; iii- part-time Research Associateships for women;
iv- special scheme for construction of Women’s Hostels; v- financial
assistance to women’s colleges (50 years old) for purchase of
books, journals and equipment; and vi- day-care centres in universities.
The women’s enrolment in Universities/Colleges
is currently 39.84%. Besides, there are 5 exclusive Women’s Universities
and 1578 women’s colleges, of which 219 were opened during the
last 3 years.
The education of women and
girls continues to be an area of major emphasis in the programmes
and projects of the Indira Gandhi National Open University.
The Department of Science
& Technology’s Women Scientists Scheme, which has been recently
launched, is aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists
and technologists for pursuing research, with or without break
in their career, in frontier areas of science and engineering,
society related scientific problems and also for training for
S&T-based self-employment. There is a scheme of National Women
Bio-Scientist’s award, which was started by the Department of
Bio-Technology in 1999. Five awards were given to women under
this scheme last year.
Under the scheme of strengthening
of boarding and hostel facilities for girl students of secondary
and higher secondary schools, financial assistance is given for
strengthening of boarding and hostel facilities for girls studying
from classes VI to XII. Preference is given to educationally backward
districts, particularly to those inhabited by SCs/STs.
The scheme of community polytechnics
for women aims at bringing community and rural development through
science and technology applications and through skill oriented
non-formal training.
Under the Women’s Vocational
Training Programme, institutionalised skill training is offered
to women in basic, advanced and post-advanced skills. There are
323 Women Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) affiliated to
the Directorate General of Employment & Training. A provision
for 25% of seats for women in General ITIs has also been recommended
by the Directorate General of Employment & Training.
