Status of Women Education in Bankura Municipal Town, 1991–2011: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

Women’s education is one of the most important demographic attributes that describe the social aspects of the population. It is measured as the number of literate women per hundred women in the total female population. Currently, female literacy is a very important indicator of gender equality and the social development of a region. The female education rate in Bankura city is low and is increasing daily. A huge gender gap is observed between the female and male literacy rates in Bankura city. The male literacy rates were 56.03%, 80.12%, and 83.29% in 1991, 2001, and 2011, respectively. On the other hand, the female literacy rates were 51.47%, 65.92%, and 73.55%, respectively. Poverty, lack of girls’ schools, child marriage, lack of social security, and lack of social awareness among women are the major causes of educational backwardness of women in Bankura Town. The study is based on primary field survey data and secondary data obtained from the Census of India for 1991, 2001, and 2011, and employs percentage, comparative, and GIS-based spatial analysis to examine ward-wise variations in female literacy. Awareness on women education, vocational training courses, arrangement of free education and scholarships for women (like Kanyashree Prakalpa), various Central and State Government schemes (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme, Sukanya Samiriddhi Yojna, Balika Samridhi Yojna, Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojna, Sabooj Sathi Prakalpa, Rupashree Prakalpa) will enhance women’s education in Bankura Town. Women’s education is very important for the proper social and economic growth of a country. Education develops a person properly and turns a person into a real human resource. This society will truly progress if the female and male literacy rates increase.