A well-educated population is the most important for social, economic and political development. Women constitute half of a country’s population but there is a wide gender disparity in India’s performance on literacy. The literacy rate of females is much lower than those of males in India. As per the 2011 census, the female literacy rate in India is around 60% which is 20% lower than that of males. The lack of education among women prevents their participation in the workforce, thus hindering the country’s development.
Many studies have concluded that female education has a significant impact on the development of future generations as mothers usually play a more active role in a child’s upbringing than fathers. They say, “if you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman, you educate a nation”. Govt. has made several efforts to improve literacy among females. The expansion of education among girls/women has been an integral part of educational policies and programs. Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken a number of initiatives for the expansion of girls’ education.
Policies And Schemes Of Government For Females
Following are some of the famous policies and schemes of government for girl child and females:
1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan launched in 2000 is a flagship program of Govt. Of India to achieve universalization of elementary education. Education of girls especially those belonging to scheduled castes and tribes is the primary focus of SSA. Efforts to be made to mainstream gender concerns in all activities under the SSA. Actions especially targeting girls include-
- Free textbooks to all girls up to class 8th.
- Separate toilet for girls.
- To bring back the out-of-school girls.
- Bridge courses for older girls.
- Recruitment of 50% female teachers.
- Reopening of schools in the Neighbourhood to make access easier for girls.
2. Right To Education
Free and compulsory education for all children of the age 6-14 years was made a fundamental right under Article 21A by RTE Act, 2009.
3. National Program for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL)
NPEGEL is implemented in educationally backward schools. It reaches out to girls who are enrolled in school but don’t attend school regularly. Under NPEGEL teachers are emphasized to recognize vulnerable girls and pay attention to them and prevent them from dropping out.
4. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
It was Launched with initial funding of Rs. 100 crore. It aims at generating awareness about the importance of girl children. Under this scheme, district-level education officers must ensure that the benefit of free and compulsory education reaches all girls in their area.
5. Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
This program is targeted at the parents of girl children and encourages them to build a fund for future education and marriage expenses for their female child. It is a part of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
6. Balika Samridhi Yojana
Key objectives of this scheme include improving the enrolment and retention of girl child born on or after 15th August 1997 in schools. It helps in raising daughters until their legal age of marriage. Successful young girls will get an education that will help them with jobs. Only one girl child per family can use this scheme.
Balika Samridhi Yojana7. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya
Kasturba Gandhi Baking Vidyalayas (KGBV) has been opened in educationally backward blocks to provide for residential upper primary schools for girls. KGBVs reach out to-
- Adolescent girls who are unable to go to regular schools.
- Out of school girls in 10+ age group who are unable to complete primary school.
8. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
RMSA envisages enhancing the quality of education by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of every habitation, improving the quality of education at the secondary level, removal of gender, social-economic and disability barriers. Integrated scheme of RMSA includes the construction of new secondary schools, provision of a separate toilet for girls, self-defense training, organization of awareness camps are taken up to improve the education of girls at the secondary stage.
9. National Scheme for Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education
This scheme was launched to promote enrolment of girl child in the age group of 14-18 years at the secondary stage, especially those who passed Class 8th and to encourage the secondary education of such girls.
10. Mahila Samakhya
Mahila Samakhya – meaning education for women’s equality – was launched in 1989 by the Government of India in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka. time. The guiding principle of the program is the centrality of education in empowering women to achieve basic equality. It strives to make women aware, empowered, capable and self-reliant. Mahila Samakhya has been particularly successful in targeting out-of-school girls by working with the community to create learning opportunities in alternative centers, residential camps, and early childhood development centers. The program has been supported by the State government, UNICEF, World Bank, and others.
11. Udaan
CBSE has launched this scheme to provide free online resources to +2 girl students for preparation of admission test for premier engineering colleges in the country.
12. Scheme to provide assistance for the Advancement of Girls participation in Technical Education
This scheme was launched by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to provide assistance of Girls’ participation in Technical Education. This scheme envisages granting 40000 scholarships per annum.
13. Dhanalakshmi Yojana
Conditional money transfer scheme for girl child on enrollment and retention in school and two other conditions.
14. Sakshar Bharat Mission for Female Literacy
It was launched in 2008 for promoting adult education, especially among women. Lok Shiksha Kendras were set up under this scheme.
Also Read: 11 Government Healthcare Schemes for Women and Children
