1. SOUTH INDIA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
ISSN: 0972 – 8945
Vol. XXI, No.40, January – June : 2023, 20
A STUDY ON GENDER EQUALITY IN EDUCATION IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Dr Sarveer Hussain Aakhoon
Dr. Niyaz Ahmed Sheikh
Sarveerkhandr@Gmail.Com ; sheikhniyazah@gmail.com
Introduction
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"
(Nelson Mandela)
Education is one of the principal means to build the defense of peace" in the minds of men and women
everywhere-the mission assumed by UNESCO when the Organization was created more than half a
century ago. The right to education is a core human right and everyone has the right to education. The
right to education means that education should be available for every child. However, in many parts
of the world gender inequality is widespread, affecting access to education for girls. Education will be
used as an agent of basic change in the status of women. Education is the key factor for women
empowerment, prosperity, development and welfare. Gender equality is not exclusively fundamental
human right but it is also essential for poverty reduction and sustained economic growth. Promoting
gender equality in all areas of education is the means by which we can ensure not only that the basic
needs of girls and boys are met, but that they have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and
realize their human right. Gender equality in education means girls and boys have equal opportunities
to enter school, as well as to participate in and benefit from the range of subjects or other learning
experience offered in schools and classrooms.
Education is the key which opens the door to life, develops humanity hand promotes national
development. Women education is an input to the development of any country. It is very effective tool
for women's empowerment not only from the point of view of literacy, but it has inter-linkage with
other social parameters viz population growth, health care, education of children etc. Women
education enables rural women to acquire new knowledge and technology required for improving and
developing their tasks in all fields. Female education is essential for higher standard of health and
improved ‘maternal competence' which leads to lower infant mortality. It is necessary to educate
women, when women are educated that means every family is educated and knowledgeable, women
can face all challenges in her life.
Objective and Methodology
The major objective of the paper is to study the gender equality in education in Jammu and New Delhi
Kashmir. The present study is based on secondary data and was collected from various census reports,
J&K digest of statistics and Indiastat. Compound Growth Rate was used te female enrollment during
the period from 2000-01 to 2013-14.
Women Education in India
The history of female education in India has its roots in the British Regime .Women status in India has
not been uniform during different historical periods. During Vedic period women had equal rights with
men. All the privileges entitled to a son were given to the daughters. During the post-Vedic period
status of women started deteriorating and continued the same Mughal period and first half of the 19
century. But towards the second half of the 19th
century women education started improving in the
country. Education of women has been top priorities development planning. Indian constitution not
only grants equality to women but also empowering the state to take on ways positive discrimination
in favor of women for neutralizing the increasing socio-economic and political disadvantages faced
by them. Gender disparity has been major issue for achieving the goal of universal elementary
education in India. For achieving gender equality in education, the government of India launched
various schemes such as National Progamme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level, Kasturba
2. SOUTH INDIA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
ISSN: 0972 – 8945
Vol. XXI, No.40, January – June : 2023, 21
Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Beti Anmol and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan etc, which helps to reduce gender
inequality in education in India. The adult literacy rate had increased from 61 per cent to 69.3 per cent
during the period 2001-2011 and it was 70.5 per cent in 2014. The increase in adult literacy rate was
higher in female than m gender gap was also reduced (ESC 2016).
Table 1: Literacy Rate in India
Source: Educational Statistics at a Glance 2016
Education of Women in Jammu and Kashmir
Census Year Persons Males Females
1951 18.3 27.2 8.9
1961 28.3 40.4 15.4
1971 34.5 46 22
1981 43.6 56.4 29.8
1991 52.2 64.1 39.3
2001 64.8 75.3 53.7
2011 73 80.9 64.6
3. SOUTH INDIA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
ISSN: 0972 – 8945
Vol. XXI, No.40, January – June : 2023, 22
Jammu and Kashmir is one of the backward education states in India with respect of women's
education. The educational status of women in Jammu and Kashmir like their counterparts elsewhere
in the country is also depressing and quite dismal. The literacy rate of Jammu and Kashmir had
increased by 13 per cent in last decade from 65.75 per cent in 2001 census to 78.26 per cent in
2011census in males while as female literacy rate has increased by 16 per cent in last decade from
41.82 per cent in the census 2001 to 58.01 per cent in 2011census (Economic Survey, 2013-14). The
gender gap also reduced 20.25 per cent due to higher rate of increase in the female literacy rate
(Economics Survey, 2014-15).
Table 2 Literacy Rate in Jammu and Kashmir
Year Male Female Total MFG
1961 19.75 5.05 12.95 14.7
1971 31.01 1094 21.71 20.07
1981 41.46 18.76 30.64 22.73
1991 NA NA NA NA
2001 65.75 41.82 65.67 23.93
2011 78.26 58.01 68.74 20.25
Source: Census 2011
NA: Not AvailableGap
Note: indicates Not Available
The highest female literacy rate was found in winter capital Jammu district (77.41%) followed Samba
(74.39%), Kathua (64.56%) and Leh (64.52% ). The female literacy rate of summer Jammu and
Kashmir (Srinagar district) was found 63.47 per cent. The lowest female literacy found in Ramban
district (40.04%). The female enrollment in primary schools increases from 3.08 lakhs to 4.88 Lakhs
during the period 2002-03 to 2013-14. In middle school, the female enrollment also increase from 1.47
lakhs 2.42 lakhs during same period, Further in high and higher secondary schools the female
enrolment also increased from 1:32 lakh to 2.14 lakhs during the period 2002-03 to 2013-14 .As far as
the female moment was concerned in colleges, there was also improvement in enrollment the period
(Digest of Statistics, 2013-14)
Schemes for Women Education in Jammu and Kashmir
The central and state government were launched various schemes for improvement of women
education in the state in terms of enrollment, dropout and gender gap in education, Due to launch of
these schemes, the literacy rate of women has increased 16 per cent during the last decade which shows
that there is improvement in female education. The following the important schemes that give gender
equality in education
4. SOUTH INDIA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
ISSN: 0972 – 8945
Vol. XXI, No.40, January – June : 2023, 23
1. National Programmed for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL): NPEGEL is a focused
intervention aimed at enhancing girl education. The scheme provides development of "Model School'
in every cluster with more emphases on girl enrollment especially dropout and never enrolled children.
In the state 593 Model Schools have been established under this scheme. The need based incentive
like stationary, books and sports equipment’s for girls in identified schools were provide under this
scheme.
2. Beti Anmol: The state government "Beti Anmol scheme launched in 2011- 12 with a view to capture
post matric dropout rate of girl students belonging to Blow Poverty Line (BPL) and attractive their
employment prospects. Under this scheme, an amount of its 5000/ is to be given as incentive to the
girl students of educationally backward blocks, who pass their matriculation examination and get
themselves enrolled in the 11 class. The amount is given in the shape of bank deposit only after the
students pass 12 class examination. Under the scheme of Beti Anmol, 07 educationally backward
blocks presently catering to the girl students in the state. The main objective of this new scheme is to
empower women through education. Beti Anmol scheme pro- vides 5,955 girl students’ incentives
during 2012-13 and 5,335 girl students were provided incentives during 2013-2014, ending March,
2014,
3. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV): KGBV is another important scheme for girl education
which empowers women. KGBV is a scheme for setting up residential schools at upper primary level
for adolescent girls belongs to SC, ST and OBC community. Under this scheme 99 KGBVs have been
established in the Jammu and Kashmir state. The enrolled girl students pro- vide with free boarding
and lodging facility and also provide day today expenses.
4. Saakshar Bharat Mission Programme: A new initiative for adult literacy has been taken at national
and 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, having less than 50 per cent literacy rate as per 2001 census
were approved under Saakshar Bharat Mission Programme. This is another major flagship scheme and
focuses on female adult literacy rate in the age group15 years and above across the state excepting
Jams and Samba district. Under this scheme 29432 women were made literate in the state during the
period 2012-13 to 2015-16. Under the Scheme of Saakshar Bharat Programme 1684 women were
literate in 2015-16 in Jammu and Kashmir and Rs1.72 core amount released /utilized under National
Scheme of Incentives to girls' secondary education in Jammu and Kashmir (Indiastat).
Table3.Female Enrollment in Jammu and Kashmir from 2000 to 2014 (Lakhs)
Year Primary Middle High/Higher
Secondary
2000-01 5.09 1.95 1.44
2001-02 4.39 2.32 1.81
2002-03 3.08 1.47 1.32
2003-04 3.13 1.56 1.27
2004-05 5.12 2.03 1.53
2005-06 5.78 2.08 1.57
2006-07 4.58 2.46 1.48
2007-08 5.43 3.14 2.22
2008-09 5.03 2.42 2.14
2009-10 6.46 3.13 2.7
2010-11 6 3.23 2.79
2011-12 5.03 2.6 2.24
2012-13 5.5 2.56 2.15
2013-14 4.88 2.42 2.14
CGR 2.63 3.8 4.84
Source: Digest of Statistics 2013-14
Table 3 shows the female enrollment in primary, middle, high/higher secondary schools in, Jammu
and Kashmir during the period from 2000-01 to 2013-14. The Compound Growth Rate of female
enrollment in primary school was 2.63 middle school was 3.8 and in high/higher secondary school it
5. SOUTH INDIA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
ISSN: 0972 – 8945
Vol. XXI, No.40, January – June : 2023, 24
was found 4.84. The table clearly depicts that as we move higher classes the enrollment of females
increased which shows that there is improvement in female education in the state.
Conclusion
Gender disparity is one of the most serious problems in our society particularly in education which is
the key factor for women empowerment, prosperity, development and welfare. In Jammu and Kashmir
females are educational backward when compared to women at national level. The number of schemes
has been launched by the central government which made lot of improvement in female literacy rate
in the state. The literacy rate of female had increased from 41, 82 per cent in 2001 to 58.01 per cent in
2011. The study depicts that as we move higher classes the enrollment of females increased which
shows that there is improvement in female education in the state bat disparity still exists. The female
literacy rate had rise 16 per cent but gender gap reduces only 3 per cent during a last decade. In order
to reduce more gender gap in education, the government should be take new steps to educate more
girls in the state for the upliftment of economic, social and political status of woman in the state.
References
Digest of Statistics, (2013-14) Directorate of Economics & Statistics Government of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Economic Survey, (2013-14) Directorate of Economics & Statistics Government of Jammu And
Kashmir.
Economic Survey, (2014-15) Directorate of Economics & Statistics Government of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Education Statistics at a Glance, (2016) Government of India, Minister of Human Resource
Development, Department of School Education & Literacy
Kaur Amandeep and Gaurav K. (2014) "Education for Women Equality", Right to Education:
Challenges and Implementation edited by Neetu Ohri, Yashoda C and Sandeep K. APH Publishing
pp. 25-29.
Kaur Narinder (2014) "Education for Women Equality", Right to Education: Challenges And
Implementation edited by Neetu Ohri, Yashoda C and Sandeep K, APH Publishing Pp.276-280
Rashid, Ruhee, Maharashi, Santosh K. (2015),"Status of Female Education in Jammu & Kashmir since
1950, American Journal of Educational Research, 6(3), 731-735
Sameena and Jameel Ahmed (2015), "Gender Disparity in Education: A Study of Poonch District in
J&K", International Journal of Economic and Business Review, 3(3), 141-147.
Shettar, Rajeshwari, M. (2015). "A study on issues and challenges of women empowerment in India",
ISOR Journal of Business and Management, 4(17), 13-19
Suri, Kavita (2013), "Enhancing Women's Empowerment through Capacity Building Program:
Reflection from Jammu & Kashmir", Journal of Business Management & Social Sciences
Research, 4(2), 82-85
Verma Harpeet (2014) "Education for Women Equality". Right to Education: Challenges and
Implementation edited by Neetu Ohri, Yashoda C and Sandeep K, APH Publishing Pp.162-164.
