Assess the role of the State in promoting education of girl child. (UPSC CSE Mains 2018 - Sociology, Paper 2)
- Education is a fundamental right for every individual, regardless of gender. However, in India, girls have long been denied this right due to societal norms and prejudices. Women education in India has a major preoccupation of both the government and civil society as educated women can play a very important role in the development of the country. Education is milestone of women empowerment because it enables them to responds to the challenges, to confront their traditional role and change their life. a positive attitudinal change. It is therefore, crucial for the socioeconomic and political progress of India. The Constitution of India empowers the state to adopt affirmative measures for prompting ways and means to empower women. Education significantly makes difference in the lives of women.
- The Right to Education Act, 2009, guarantees all Indian girls the right to education as a fundamental right. This makes India the second most populated country in the world with 48.5% of female population. Providing education for girls aims at promoting gender parity that leads to prosperity.
- The importance of girl child education has become a fundamental right globally recognized by UNESCO as a human right. Despite India''s progress in enrolment levels of primary school age girls within the last decade; many barriers remain that prevent secondary school enrolment resulting in an exclusion rate of out-of-school girls mostly from rural areas. Governance plays a critical role in terms of access to educational opportunities; hence policies must ensure inclusion regardless of caste or ethnicity. Providing financial support through CSR initiatives or central government-funded programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme can encourage families from low-income backgrounds to prioritize their girl child''s schooling.
- Despite facing challenges such as poverty, child marriage, and gender-based violence, India has made significant progress towards providing quality education for girls. The gross enrollment ratio for girls in both primary and secondary education has increased in recent years. However, gender disparity remains a critical issue. It is crucial to ensure that every girl has equal access to educational opportunities and better futures through inclusion and gender equity.
- It requires policies that are gender-sensitive and address the challenges faced by young girls, like poverty, cultural norms, and gender-based violence. Ranging from community involvement to awareness campaigns, strategies such as these can help bridge the inequality gap between boys and girls'' education levels.
- The central government has implemented policies such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid-day Meal Scheme that aim to improve access to quality education for girls from all backgrounds. Initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya focus on young girls from marginalized communities. Gender-sensitive governance is vital in promoting gender equality and closing the gender gap. Providing young women with educational opportunities is a fundamental right that can help create prosperity and inclusive societies.
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