Growth and Regional Inequality in Literacy in India
Radhika Kapur
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Abstract
Literacy is a very broad concept, it is not just simple reading of the words, symbols and
sounds but it is the understanding of the world; it is an extension of an individual towards
education, including all the kinds of interdisciplinary solutions to the problems. Literacy leads to
education and an empowerment of an individuals knowledge, skills and abilities; individual
tends to utilize his skills and knowledge in a productive manner for the growth and enhancement
of oneself and the community. Throughout India, still numbers of people are illiterate and there
is an interconnection between poverty and illiteracy; they are considered to be the part of the
complex system of deprivation and discrimination. When the literacy programs and schemes are
organized and formulated in a manner that aims at poverty eradication then even the
economically backward segments of the society develop an interest in literacy (Training Manual,
n.d.). Literacy is stated to be the agent of social change. Poverty is said to be closely related to
the levels of schooling that the individual has obtained. The earning capacity is endowed within
an individual on the basis of the level of education that he has attained. People who are illiterate
or who have not acquired much education do dwell in the conditions of poverty, and people who
are well educated do enable to find job opportunities for themselves. People suffer from poverty
due to poor investment amongst themselves and they lack the funds for human capital investment
(Causes of poverty, 2012).
Keywords: Literacy; Regional Inequality; education
References
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