dahiyars
January 1st, 2005, 02:43 PM
Gender blind education in Haryana
Literacy rate is taken as one of the parameters for measuring the development of a country. The education is to develop a human being capabilities in all respects. Looking from the point of view of educational facilities, it has been incorporated in the constitution to provide primary and compulsory education till the age of 14 years (Article 21 A). However, the literacy rate according to the 2001 census among females is 54.15% and 75.85% among males. The disparity between women and men education is that men are considered to be the bread earner of the family, while the role of care taking is ascribed to that of women whereas statistics show that nearly % households are economically supported by women in Haryana. As it is considered to be the responsibility of men to earn money, education is taken as the means to attend the end. But the case for the women is something different. Since the woman is the one who bears the children, she is assigned the job of caring. And at the same time care for the family is assumed to be the sole responsibility of women. As it is considered by the society that the girl child after being matured, is going to manage the household, her education isn’t given a priority.
Moreover, it is taken for granted that the gain out of the education is to be reaped by her marital family. Though the parents of the girl child may bear the cost of educating their daughter, but after marriage the monetary benefits generated directly from employment and indirectly form education goes to the family of her in-laws. Therefore it is inculcated in the minds of people that having the girl child is just like watering somebody else’s plant. Nourishment of the seedling takes place in the parental home whereas the benefit of the fruits goes to the marital household. So educating the girl child is considered to be an addition to the expenses of marriage. It can be said that even after 54 years since 1951, the male- female gap in the literacy rate hasn’t shown much marked changes. In such a situation, wherein about 46% of Indian women still illiterate, aspiring a developed country status for India and assuming that women in India are feeling good, is nothing but a pipedream. The situation in Haryana is not much different.Out of 55 Govt colleges in Haryana 7 are for girls(2001—02).
The sex ratio in Haryana amongst the educated people is 617. It means our education is gender blind. Rather we are educated to eliminate females in more sophisticated ways. On the top of that we claim enough liberty has been given to women in Haryana.( We react on gender issue,"or ke ye sir pai baithaingee?"). The girls are fairing better than boys in education.The net result of great hue and cry about Women Empowerment in Haryana is terrible decline in their number. Where to go from here?
R.S.Dahiya
Literacy rate is taken as one of the parameters for measuring the development of a country. The education is to develop a human being capabilities in all respects. Looking from the point of view of educational facilities, it has been incorporated in the constitution to provide primary and compulsory education till the age of 14 years (Article 21 A). However, the literacy rate according to the 2001 census among females is 54.15% and 75.85% among males. The disparity between women and men education is that men are considered to be the bread earner of the family, while the role of care taking is ascribed to that of women whereas statistics show that nearly % households are economically supported by women in Haryana. As it is considered to be the responsibility of men to earn money, education is taken as the means to attend the end. But the case for the women is something different. Since the woman is the one who bears the children, she is assigned the job of caring. And at the same time care for the family is assumed to be the sole responsibility of women. As it is considered by the society that the girl child after being matured, is going to manage the household, her education isn’t given a priority.
Moreover, it is taken for granted that the gain out of the education is to be reaped by her marital family. Though the parents of the girl child may bear the cost of educating their daughter, but after marriage the monetary benefits generated directly from employment and indirectly form education goes to the family of her in-laws. Therefore it is inculcated in the minds of people that having the girl child is just like watering somebody else’s plant. Nourishment of the seedling takes place in the parental home whereas the benefit of the fruits goes to the marital household. So educating the girl child is considered to be an addition to the expenses of marriage. It can be said that even after 54 years since 1951, the male- female gap in the literacy rate hasn’t shown much marked changes. In such a situation, wherein about 46% of Indian women still illiterate, aspiring a developed country status for India and assuming that women in India are feeling good, is nothing but a pipedream. The situation in Haryana is not much different.Out of 55 Govt colleges in Haryana 7 are for girls(2001—02).
The sex ratio in Haryana amongst the educated people is 617. It means our education is gender blind. Rather we are educated to eliminate females in more sophisticated ways. On the top of that we claim enough liberty has been given to women in Haryana.( We react on gender issue,"or ke ye sir pai baithaingee?"). The girls are fairing better than boys in education.The net result of great hue and cry about Women Empowerment in Haryana is terrible decline in their number. Where to go from here?
R.S.Dahiya