WE THE PEOPLE
Apart from Disturbing Sex-Ratio, Kashmir Literacy Rate Lags Behind that of Jammu Division
Hence People urge Govt., to adopt appropriate Measures to bridge the Gap
By: MNS/ Makhdoomi
Srinagar: In our first Part on the historical census report 2011, released recently by the Directorate of Census, we have dwelt at length on the worrying realities unearthed by the recent Census Report on disturbing Sex-Ratio in our State. The realities are much grimmer related to this aspect in Ladakh and Jammu Divisions, while in Kashmir except the districts of Kulgam, Shopian and Srinagar the realities have worsened related to this all important aspect.
The second important aspect after Sex Ratio that any Census unearths is the reality related to the overall Literacy rates. The recent Census report has shown that Jammu Division has a slight edge over the Kashmir valley in terms of overall literacy.
But as is evident from the Census report, the North Kashmir District of Kupwara has made huge strides in terms of overall literacy. If we look at the Census figure from holistic angle, Jammu and Kashmir’s literacy rate has
Increased by 13 per cent in the last decade even as the State witnessed a dip in the Sex Ratio and the Child Sex Ratio, the provisional figures of the 2011 Census reveal. The literacy rate in Jammu and Kashmir has increased from 55 per cent in 2001 Census to 68 per cent in the 2011 Census.
It is worth mentioning out here that Jammu, Samba and Leh districts have the highest literacy rates of over 90 per cent while Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Ramban, Kulgam and Reasi have a literacy rate of less than 60 per cent.
Remote Kupwara district in North Kashmir has made the biggest stride in improving the literacy rate, moving from 42 per cent in 2001 to 68 per cent this year.
The average literacy rate in 10 districts of Jammu Division has jumped to 68.79 percent in comparison to 63.29 percent of the Valley, according to the provisional figures released.
While on the other hand, the Literacy Rate in least populated Ladakh province is 77.48 percent. Heading the list, Jammu has almost 84 percent literate people followed by Samba with 82.48 percent and 80.48 percent in Leh. Srinagar figures at 6th position with 71.21 percent literacy rate among 22 districts of JK.
With 56.90 percent literacy rate, Ramban has figured at bottom of the table followed by Bandipora with 57.82 percent and Budgam with 57.98 percent.
Kumail Ahmad, a student commenting on this veracity said,” Kashmir Division is slightly lagging behind the Jammu Region in terms of the progress made on overall literacy front. While considering the fact that Kashmir valley has been facing conflict and turmoil like situation for over two decades, so progress made by Kashmir valley is quite satisfactory. The literacy figures related to the border District of Kupwara have impressed one and all. However, the progress made by the Districts like Srinagar and Budgam is slow and needs to pick up”.
On the other hand, in a surprising development, the provisional 2011 Census report released some days back has included paramilitary and army personnel among Jammu and Kashmir’s population pegged at 12548926, an increase of 2405226 in the last 10 years.
“The population includes everyone who was here when Census was carried from 09 to 28 February last,” said Farooq Ahmad Faktoo, Chief Principal Census Officer of the State, who revealed this at a Press Conference. However, he refused to divulge the exact number of the forces, saying that they don’t keep separate number but that of total population in the State. Nevertheless, the current Census report has highlighted several burning aspects.
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