Chhattisgarh fares better than many states

Girl education in primary and upper primary classes are much better than other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Telangana Surprising, but true is the fact that backward as well as tribal dominated district Sarguja and its population understands the importance of girl education and therefore it tops in Gender Parity Index (GPI) of girl education in primary and upper primary classes among all other districts of the Chhattisgarh.

In this district, which was considered once second largest district of the State after Bastar in terms of area, 104 girls are studying in primary classes against 100 boys whereas in upper primary classes, Gender Parity Index (GPI) stands at 1.03: 1 that means 103 girls have been enrolled in these classes against 100 boys.

The GPI of girl education in primary as well as upper primary classes are much better than other States of the nation including advanced ones like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Telangana. Here (Chhattisgarh) parents of girls are taking keen interest to enroll their female children in schools and receive education at least upper primary level (classes I to VIII). In most of the districts amongst 27 ones, GPI is satisfactory and more than guidelines of Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009.

According to the information of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), GPI of primary classes in Chhattisgarh has been registered 0.98 versus 1 that means 98 girls have been enrolled in primary classes against 100 boys. On the other hand GPI of upper primary classes stands at 0.96 versus 1 that means 96 girls have been enrolled at upper primary classes against 100 boys which are quite larger than GPI of Maharashtra and Gujarat where only 85 to 87 girls are enrolled against 100 boys in both primary and upper primary classes.

After Sarguja, Raigarh district stands at second position in this category as GPI of primary and upper primary classes in the district is 102 girls against 100 boys and 101 girls against 100 boys respectively. In another tribal dominated division of Bastar, Kanker stands at first position among them as GPI of primary and upper primary classes in this district is 101 girls against 100 boys and 102 girls against 100 boys respectively. In fact other districts of the division also performed well in the category of GPI and all of them record as 98 to 100 girls against 100 boys in the primary education (classes I to V).

‘May be India is at its worst on gender inequality especially in terms of education but Chhattisgarh is still in better position than other states at least in elementary education. We need women to be educated and skilled particularly of higher order skill sets. Women are far behind in the choice subjects itself’ said Dr Vibha Singh, woman activist and professor of Political Science.

On the other hand in advanced districts of the state like in Raipur, Durg and Bilaspur GPI of primary and upper primary classes are better but still lower than GPIs of Sarguja, Jashpur and Bastar districts. In Raipur, GPI of primary classes is 98 girls against 100 boys and in upper primary classes it was recorded 97 girls against 100 boys. On the other hand in Durg district, GPI of primary classes is 99 girls against 100 boys and for upper primary classes it stands as 98 girls against 100 boys.

Similar is the condition of other advanced districts across state like Korba, Rajnandgaon and Balodabazar. So there is need of improving education status in these districts. Gautam Banerjee, Coordinator of Chhattisgarh RTE Forum stated that it is a positive sign and need to maintain it forever.