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The literacy rate encompasses numeracy and is a simple assessment of arithmetic ability. The literacy rate implies the accumulated achievement of primary education. Literacy refers to knowledge in a specific area. Education is the fundamental right that should be given to every individual under the ‘Right to Education Act’
Literacy Rate
The literacy rate is defined as the number of literate people in a total population of that particular age group. The adults’ age group (15 and above) plays a major role when it comes to the assessment of literacy rate. The youth literacy rate prefers the age group between 15 to 24, and the elderly corresponds to 65 and above. Primary school enrolment has significantly increased in West Bengal. The students were provided with the provision of suitable facilities to enrich the environment in school.
Literacy rate as per the 2011 census in West Bengal
The population of West Bengal as per the 2011 census is 91,347,736, which is 7.55 % of India’s total population. West Bengal is known for its cultural and educationally developed state as Kolkata was the capital during British Raj. At present, West Bengal stands at 20th position in literacy rate rank. According to the 2011 census, West Bengal’s literacy rate is 77.08%, with a differential of 82.67 % male literacy and 71.16 % females. The urbanization differs from 100% in Kolkata to 8.36 per cent in Bankura in total; West Bengal has 31.89 %.
The female literacy rate in India (2011 census)
India has transformed socially, economically and globally. After the 2011 census of India, the literacy rate was found to be 74.04%. The youth literacy rate was higher by 9%. According to the Literacy Rate 2011 census,the female literacy rate is 65.46%, whereas the male literacy rate is over 80%. This is because females are mostly restricted from going to school in rural areas of India.
Table 1- Female literacy rate in India as per the 2011 census-
SR. NO | INDIA | FEMALE LITERACY RATE (%) |
|---|---|---|
1. | Kerala | 92.07 |
2. | Lakshadweep | 87.95 |
3. | Mizoram | 89.27 |
4. | Goa | 84.66 |
5. | Tripura | 82.73 |
6. | Daman and Dui | 79.55 |
7. | Andaman Nicobar Islands | 82.43 |
8. | Delhi | 80.76 |
9. | Chandigarh | 81.19 |
10. | Puducherry | 80.67 |
11. | Himachal Pradesh | 75.93 |
12. | Maharashtra | 75.87 |
13. | Sikkim | 75.61 |
14. | Tamil Nadu | 73.44 |
15. | Nagaland | 76.11 |
16. | Uttarakhand | 70.01 |
17. | Gujarat | 69.68 |
18. | Manipur | 70.26 |
19. | West Bengal | 70.54 |
20. | Dadra and Nagar haveli | 64.32 |
21. | Punjab | 70.73 |
22. | Haryana | 65.94 |
23. | Karnataka | 68.08 |
24. | Meghalaya | 72.89 |
25. | Orissa | 64.01 |
26. | Assam | 66.27 |
27. | Chhattisgarh | 60.24 |
28. | Madhya Pradesh | 59.24 |
29. | Uttar Pradesh | 57.18 |
30. | Jammu and Kashmir | 56.43 |
31. | Andhra Pradesh | 59.15 |
32. | Jharkhand | 55.42 |
33. | Rajasthan | 52.12 |
34. | Arunachal Pradesh | 57.70 |
35. | Bihar | 51.50 |
District wise literacy rate in West Bengal
As per the 2011 census, the general literacy rate varied from 87.66 % in East Medinipur to 60.13% in Uttar Dinajpur of the total population of West Bengal. As compared to the state average literacy rates in West Bengal, nine districts have a high literacy rate while ten districts are below the state average General literacy rates are divided into two four categories that are high (above 85%), moderate (75 to 85%), low (65 to 75%), and very low (below 65%).
Table 2- District wise Literacy rate of West Bengal as per the 2011 census
SR. NO |
DISTRICT |
LITERACY RATE (%) |
|---|---|---|
1. | North 24 Parganas | 84.06 |
2. | South 24 Parganas | 77.51 |
3. | Barddhaman | 76.21 |
4. | Murshidabad | 66.59 |
5. | Paschim Medinipur | 78.00 |
6. | Hooghly | 81.80 |
7. | Nadia | 74.97 |
8. | Purba Medinipur | 87.02 |
9. | Howrah | 83.31 |
10. | Kolkata | 86.31 |
11. | Malda | 61.73 |
12. | Jalpaiguri | 73.25 |
13. | Bankura | 70.26 |
14. | Birbhum | 70.68 |
15. | Uttar Dinajpur | 59.07 |
16. | Puruliya | 64.48 |
17. | Koch Bihar | 74.78 |
18. | Darjeeling | 79.56 |
19. | Dakshin Dinajpur | 72.82 |
Conclusion–
The literacy rate marks the potential of a city, state or country’s intellectual growth and its contribution to the development of the society. The imparting of basic literacy skills to the population will improve them in implementing those skills in real life. Reading and writing help in continuing to learn and communicate.
The literacy rate in West Bengal, as per the 2011 census, was found to show an upward trend of 77.08%, while in the 2001 census, it was 68.64%. This increase was shown due to the expansion of new educational services and opportunities. As per the overall reports and study, the literacy rate of India, age group between 15 to 24 shows the educational philosophy which showed a 9% increase.
