Women literacy in Andhra Pradesh

mandangi · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:04 pm Post subject: Women literacy in Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, literacy rate is above 60%. But women literacy is around 50% only. Poverty and religious fundamentalism both are reasons for low rate of literacy in women. Hinduism, islam and christianity, these 3 religions advocate gender discrimination. In some areas, women who go to colleges are very less. People must leave religious fundamentalism and think about welfare of women. Government must also give concession for girls of poor families in college fee.
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In India rich people become more rich and poor people become more poor. Because our politicians are following pro capitalistic policies.
Praveen Kumar Mandangi

Dasari · Telugu Teja Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 344

First of all let me state that religious fundamentalism is almost non-existent in India. Things like Aryan invasion theory and Religious fundamentalism are the stereotypical concepts proposed by British and picked up by our English speaking intellectuals, spear headed by JNU the center of our educational brain wash. If you want to know what is religious fundamentalism, look at our eastern and western borders.

Now coming back to woman literacy, it is very little to do with religion , particularly when you deal with Hindus and Christians. It is more identifiable with Poverty and Culture. If you chart the graph between woman illiteracy and poverty you see a direct correlation and AP is no exception. When it comes to culture that woman has to stay at home and be subordinate to man are concepts that prevailed all over the world and cultures. But it lasted longer in India than other cultures due to the extreme poverty that we inherited. I personally witnessed the preferential treatment that parents give to boys. It is so depressing to see girls being fed less than boys beacuse of the belief that they tender to them in their old age, although it is false fantasy. The concept like girls leave maternal home and being burden to family in terms of dowry are the main reasons for this discrimination.

Since independence we made lot of progress on these issues. But the fact remains that some states made more progress than others. The worst performing states are the so called BIMARU states: Bihar, MP, AP , Rajasthan, UP

Where do we go from here? First the recent announcement by YSR to give Rs 100,000 for parents and no fee for parents with single girl child is exactly what we needed. AP govt is also going to bombard ads (due next few months) that shows Sania Mriza with a caption that your girl can be the next champion. In addition I believe we need to give some scholarship for all school girls (like Rs 500/year) who’s parents salary is less than RS 3000/month. I don’t think it is a huge burden to budget but will have lasting effect in the next 10 years.

We also should thank and encourage several social organizations that are doing invaluable job in supporting this cause.

Sarangapani · Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 73 Location: Karimnagar

Religious fundamentalism is more in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. I have even heard the news about sati practice of some women in those states. Except the sati incident that happened in Deorala of Rajasthan, other sati incidents happened in BJP's rule in center.
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Sarangadhara Yerramreddy

Dasari · Telugu Teja Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 344