Low Literacy Rate of women in India is a stumbling block for women empowerment in India.
In our country, women education has always been a buzzer. So, not one factor can be held responsible. There are multiple reasons- social, cultural, economical, political and so on for low literacy rate of women in India. We, at Srujna, analyze some reasons, which are big and critical, and are trying to eradicate this block.
1.Low Enrolment and High Drop-outs – The foundation of low literacy rate of women in India is the low enrolment of girls in schools and high drop-out rates. Dropping out of school is nearly twice as that of boys. In the deep rural regions of India, educating a girl is still considered as an option and not a necessity.
2.Responsibility of Household chores: In tribal, rural and slum areas of the nation, most of the times, a girl is assumed to play a role of taking all the household work responsibility such as looking after the younger sibling, fetching water, collecting firewood, taking care of the cows and cattle, cleaning etc.
3.Inappropriate School Environment: The school environment in the rural regions and tribal areas for girls in India is not really favorable. The basic amenities like clean washroom and lack of drinking water, makes it difficult for a girl student to attend school and hence, resulting in drop-outs.
4.Poverty: One of the biggest barriers to women education is poverty. Instead of parents sending the girl child to school, they send the girl child to rudimentary work and earn them a livelihood.
5.Marriage: In India, even in the wealthiest of families, marriage of the girl is the focus. Her interest lies in higher studies, but her family’s interest lies in getting her married in a ‘good’ family. This conflict of interest results in discontinuation of studies.
Srujna Charitable Trust is leading the way in breaking gender stereotypes that have traditionally existed in India. Through unique initiatives, we strive to create more female leaders and entrepreneurs and provide unique livelihood opportunities. We are challenging the status quo and working to empower women who are affected by the traditional norms of the society. This is not just about providing economic opportunities, but also a platform for self-advancement.
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