A Study on the Challenges faced by the Rural Women in Accessing Education and What Government Schemes are implemented for the Same (By Gagandeep Kaur)
Investing in girls’ education helps transform
the community, countries, and the world. Girls who
receive proper education earn higher incomes, participate in decision-making,
are independent, and give themselves and their families a better future. Girls’ education can
contribute a lot in strengthening the country's economy and changing the status
from developing to a developed nation. It will also prove to be a significant
step in reducing inequality[1]. And also, as per Article 51 (A) [e] “entitles
women to attain not less than one-third
of the total number of seats to be allotted by rotation to different
constituencies in every panchayat,” as an educated girl is more likely to be participating in political
discussions, meetings, and decision-making, which further leads to the formation
of a more representative and democratic government.
To
promote effective and good quality proper education in rural India, some developmental
programs/schemes need to launched over the years to achieve these
all-encompassing objectives, so there are some schemes prevailed by the government
like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’
though, this scheme does not prove to be so relevant if the community does not
cooperate. This is why an alternative is required in people's minds to bring about
a social change. Then only these schemes will progress depending on the
awareness spread and the implementation of the plan, which requires the active
participation of both the citizens and the government[2].
To bring transformative developmental strategies
for promoting girls’ education, specific step has to be readily taken, and they
are as follows:
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By tackling discriminatory
gender norms and harmful practices that deny girls access to school and quality
learning.
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By supporting both centers and
state government to ensure that gender-responsive plans and policies are
implemented to prioritize gender equality.
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Helping Schools and
governments refrain from teaching all those materials that gender gaps/gender
stereotypes in learning.
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To promote social protection
measures.
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Village Panchayat should
strictly keep track of the girl enrollment ratio to avoid/reduce girl drop-outs.
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Parents should be thoroughly counseled about the girls’ education and its further implications.
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Article 46 states that
proper nutrition should be provided to the school children (especially for
rural children) as part of the mid-day meals program.
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Scholarship and other
financial aids should be increased significantly for girls who want to pursue
higher education later
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Computer and other technical
education should be imparted to a girl.
Girls and women hostels should be provided with tight security for every
two to three villages so that parents can ensure the safety of their wards and
can send them for higher education without any stress or tension