This document discusses steps to improve literacy rates in India. It provides statistics on literacy rates from the 2011 and 2013 censuses. The male literacy rate was 82.14% in 2011 while the female rate was 65.46%. Several factors that contribute to low literacy are discussed, including lack of infrastructure in schools, poverty, and lower rates for females. Potential solutions proposed include implementing reverse osmosis plants for drinking water, providing school meals using ID cards, educating parents, and ensuring equality of access for handicapped children.

1. Manthan topic: Stepping Stones.
Enhancing the quality of primary education.
Team details:
1. R Nikhil
2. P Nikhil
3. Rakesh
4. Praveen
5. Amarender
From: Sreenidhi institute of science and technology, Hyderabad.

2. MALE
FEMALE
150000000
160000000
170000000
180000000
190000000
200000000
2011 2013
Census of population of children
MALE FEMALE
1. According to 2011 and 2013 the birthrate decreased.
2. The literacy rate in India was 74.04 percent according to
2011 census.
3. Out of this male literacy rate was 82.14 percent and female
was 65.46 percent.
4. There was very good increase of literacy rate among
females (11.8%) than the males (6.9%) from 2001 to 2011.
Some of the statistics observed from 2001
List of steps taken by government of India to improve literacy rate in India:
1. Free education programs to poor people living in villages and towns.
2. Setting up of new school and colleges at district and state levels.
3. Several committees have formed to ensure proper utilization of funds allotted to improve literacy rate.

3. Reasons for low literacy:
1. Infrastructure:
a. The absence of adequate infrastructure like improper facilities and inefficient teaching staff is one of the main
factors affecting literacy in India. There is a shortage of class rooms. In addition to this there is no proper
sanitation in most of the schools.
b. The study of 188 govt. run primary schools in northern India revealed that 59% of the schools has no drinking
water facility and 89% no toilets.
2. Poverty:
a. Absolute poverty has also deterred the pursuit of formal education as education is not deemed of as the highest
priority among the poor as compared to other basic necessities.
3. Illiterate females:
a. The large portion of illiterate females is another reason for low literacy rate in India. Inequality based on gender
difference resulted in female literacy rates being lower at 65.46% than that of than that of their male
counterparts at 82.14%.

4. Snapshot of solution to improve literacy rate:
1. Implantation of reverse osmosis plants:
a. This is one of the cheapest techniques by which we can clear the problem of drinking water in govt.
schools
b. This process is already implemented in some of the govt. schools of Hyderabad by student NGO.
2. Supplying of good food:
a. This type of problem is seen almost in every state of our country. This can be rectified. By the usage of
present technology. We just provide each student of the school an ID in which a barcode is present. By
swiping that card we can see that all the students are getting their food properly.
b. This can be monitored from any part of the country.
3. To educate the parents:
a. In most of the reasons parents are involved for not sending their children to schools. This is also one of
the reason for the decrease of illiteracy.
b. This can be solved by educating the parents. They should know the importance of literacy.

5. c. We may form a group of 10 members for town or city, in which they’ll be trained to talk to the
parents who are not willing to send their children to schools.
d. With this we can improve the literacy rate as well as unemployment by recruiting the members to
form the team.
4. Equality for the handicapped:
a. Our constitution says that every child has a right to study in any of the govt. recognized school.
b. But there are only some schools who follow this rule.
c. The schools who do not allow abnormal children should be taken severe police action.

6. References:
1. The right of children to free and compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which represents the
consequential legislation envisaged under Article 21-A, means that every child has a right to
full time elementary education of satisfactory and equitable quality in a formal school which
satisfies certain essential norms and standards.

7. Thank you