Lok Sabha Question No. 3144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Literacy Gap
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3144 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## Literacy Gap

## 3144. SHRI B.V. NAIK:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that there is a considerable gap between the literacy  rate  of  total  population  and  Scheduled  Caste  population  in  States  with  high  SC population;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  the  measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to increase the number of graduates from Scheduled Caste population?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  &  (b)  As  per  Census  2011,  the  gap  between  literacy  rate  of  all  castes  (72.98%)  and Scheduled Castes (SCs) (66.07%) at national level is 6.91 percentage points. There are 13 States/UTs which have SCs population higher than the national average of SCs population (16.5%). A statement indicating the literacy rates of all castes, SCs and their gap in these 13 States/UTs is annexed .

(c)    Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  increase  the  enrolment  of  SCs  in  higher education.  The University Grants Commission implements several schemes/measures such as  Rajiv  Gandhi  National  fellowships  for  SC  students,  post  graduate  scholarships  for  SC students,  post-doctoral  fellowships  for  SC  students,  coaching  schemes  for  SC  students, establishment of Equal Opportunity Cells and Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy centres in universities, etc.

Besides,  the  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  and  Ministry  of  Tribal Affairs  also  have  scholarship schemes for SC students  like Post-Matric scholarship for SC students,  Central  Sector  Scholarship  Scheme  of  Top  class  Education  for  SC  students  and National Overseas Scholarship for SC students.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3144 FOR 05.12.2016 ASKED BY SHRI B.V. NAIK REGARDING 'LITERACY GAP'.

State/UT-wise  details  of  literacy  rates  for  all  castes  &  Scheduled  Castes  and  gap  in percentage point, in the age group of 7 and above, as per Census 2011.

| Sl. No.           | India/States/UTs   | Literacy Rate     | Literacy Rate     | Gap in Percentage Points   |
|-------------------|--------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------------------|
| Sl. No.           | India/States/UTs   | All Castes        | Scheduled Castes  | Gap in Percentage Points   |
|                   | INDIA              | 72.98             | 66.07             | 6.91                       |
| 1                 | HARYANA            | 75.55             | 66.85             | 8.70                       |
| 2                 | HIMACHAL PRADESH   | 82.80             | 78.92             | 3.88                       |
| 3                 | KARNATAKA          | 75.36             | 65.33             | 10.03                      |
| 4                 | ODISHA             | 72.87             | 69.02             | 3.85                       |
| 5                 | PUNJAB             | 75.84             | 64.81             | 11.03                      |
| 6                 | RAJASTHAN          | 66.11             | 59.75             | 6.36                       |
| 7                 | TAMIL NADU         | 80.09             | 73.26             | 6.83                       |
| 8                 | TRIPURA            | 87.22             | 89.45             | -2.23                      |
| 9                 | UTTAR PRADESH      | 67.68             | 60.89             | 6.79                       |
| 10                | UTTARAKHAND        | 78.82             | 74.41             | 4.41                       |
| 11                | WEST BENGAL        | 76.26             | 69.43             | 6.83                       |
| UNION TERRITORIES | UNION TERRITORIES  | UNION TERRITORIES | UNION TERRITORIES | UNION TERRITORIES          |
| 12                | CHANDIGARH         | 86.05             | 76.45             | 9.60                       |
| 13                | NCT OF DELHI       | 86.21             | 78.89             | 7.32                       |

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