Volume : 2, Issue : 10, October - 2013

Gender Disparities in Literacy Pattern in the Malaprabha Command Area, Karnataka State– a geographical approach

Suresh L. Chitragar, Prof. S. M. Hurakadli

Abstract :

Literacy and Education are reasonably good qualitative indicators and plays a very crucial role in the social and economic development of a country. Spread and diffusion of literacy is positively associated with the essential traits of today’s civilization such as, modernization, industrialization, urbanization, communication, trade and commerce. The present paper is an attempt to analyze the gender disparities in the literacy patterns in the Malaprabha Command Area, Karnataka State. India is one of the developing nation of the world, of which the study area is part, are characterized not only by low literacy rates but also by a great disparity in the literacy pattern between male and female, and between rural and urban, a disparity in consonance with differences in necessity, prosperity and opportunity to become literate. Equally striking are the gender disparities in literacy and literacy disparities itself. This study based upon the secondary sources of data, though the study area is a natural region, the taluka/ tehsils has been taken as unit of study. The findings suggest that the there is undoubtedly significant disparities between male and female literacy pattern in the Malaprbha Command Area. These disparities existed at all level but at village level it’s even higher than the female rural literacy rate in the study area. The general reasons for this are; backwardness of area, poverty, lack of awareness, conservative mindedness, lack of opportunities and male dominated social setup.