ABSTRACT

The paper highlights the role of literacy in developing awareness among the rural masses who have been deprived of the basic strategy of communication and are economically deprived of social status. It further explores the participation style of the rural masons in developmental activities organised through various schemes by the Government and non-Government sector which has a positive linkage with the literacy status of the people.

The present campaigning modalities for enhancement of literacy have been observed on the sample taken from the State of Orissa which relates to different rural and urban areas and tribal and non-tribal sectors.

It has been observed that the trend of increasing literacy among the women has involved more number of beneficiaries in developmental activities. But the higher achievement profile of literacy... has not been able to eradicate poverty in a desired manner. But the awareness for accepting income generating occupations among the men and women in tribal sector has motivated them for better participation in order to enhance their income status.

If the present style and strategy of the literacy campaign can he modified to the extent of desirable requirements of the people living in different types of environments, may help to reduce poverty and may involve them more in developmental activities.

MAIN STUDY

INTRODUCTION

The main objective of National Literacy Mission for the country like India was to include people within the age group of 15 to 35 for better quality of life. Special care was taken to bring disadvantaged groups like women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, backward classes into the network of the programme. The basic objective was to create a general awareness among the masses for achieving the goal of education for all. The people in general would be able to participate in a number of developmental activities with greater interest and explore the possibilities of having an access to higher income through different vocations in addition to the basic competencies to be achieved in reading, writing and numeracy. The access to information would enable the people to improve their economic status. The achievement of self-reliance through functional literacy may result in empowerment. Thus, the quality of life can be improved.

After the introduction of the scheme in States and Union Territories in India, the voluntary agencies, the Universities, the State Resource Centres, the Shramik Vidyapeeths and government administrations have become more closer in organising innovative and experimental programmes and in mobilising the non-literates in general.

During the period of the campaign under the basic literacy, post literacy and continuing education in India between 1991 to 1996, much has been said about the positive and negative aspects of the scheme. The success stories and reports have also been published. The evaluation has been made. The researches have been conducted. The numerical achievement figures have been circulated but it is very difficult to say about the achievement of the neo-literates in terms of their needs and aspirations, with special reference to women empowerment. But one can say that there is a demand for primary education and more children are attending schools than before 1991. People arc well aware of their health status.

OBJECTIVES

The present study has attempted to find out the role of literacy campaign among the men and women in rural and urban areas and the nature of participation in developmental activities and to analyse the socio-economic status of the non-literates in terms of economic conditions in tribal and non-tribal sectors.

REFERENCE

In Orissa, we have a literacy rate of about 49% as per 1991 census and the number of non-literates in (he age group of 15 to 35 who were brought under the scheme was about 40 lakhs. About 60% of them are women and 40% are men. The Scheduled Tribe population is about 35% and the Scheduled Caste population is 20% in terms of neo-literates.

For the study information from four districts such as Dhenkanal, Angul, Sundergarh and Keonjhar, were taken for reference.

REFERENCE POPULATION (Number in Lakhs)

District Sector	Enrolled				Neo-literates
	Male	Women	SC	ST	Male	Women	SC	ST
Angul (Non-Tribal)	0.71	1.20	0.39	0.40	0.67	1.00	0.33	0.26
Dhenkanal (Non-Tribal)	0.96	1.35	0.68	0.60	0.39	0.64	0.22	0.21
Keonjhar (Tribal)	1.31	1.78	0.41	1.80	0.50	0.72	0.20	0.52
Sundargarh (Tribal)	1.30	1.94	0.34	1.91	0.63	0.71	0.11	0.82
Total	4.28	6.27	1.82	4.71	2.19	3.07	0.86	1.81

The general figures have been outlined in the above table which will indicate that about 10 lakhs of non-]iterates were covered for the reference out of which 60% are women and 40% am men and about 50% am tribal and 20% are Scheduled Castes. The achievement figures will indicate that out of 10 lakhs of non-]iterates only 5 lakhs could he made literate out of which 60% are women and 40% are men and about 40% are tribals and about 20% are Scheduled Castes. The selected sample population from the above districts taken for study may be seen from the following table

SAMPLE

By random sampling technique the following sample has been selected for the study.

District		General		Tribal
	Total	Male	Women	Male	Women
Angule	100	30	40	15	15
Dhenkanal	100	30	40	15	15
Keonjhar	150	40	50	30	30
Sundergarh	150	40	50	30	30
Total	500	140	180	90	90

SAMPLE RESPONDED

Districts		General Caste			Tribal			GT
	Proposed	Men	Women	Total	Men	Women	Total	M-W
Angule	100	22	31	53	10	8	18	32-39/7
Dhenkanal	100	25	30	55	12	8	20	37-38/75
Keonjhar	110	32	41	73	22	20	42	54-61/115
Sundergarh	150	36	35	71	20	21	41	56-56/112
Total	500	115	137	252	64	57	121	179-194/373

METHOD

A total of 373 neo-literates were covered for the purpose. After collecting opinions and informations regarding the economic status of the people and the rate of participation people. the final analysis has been made on the following parameters

Level of literacy

Poverty indicator - income levels

Participation status in developmental activities

(Number of neo-literates and frequency of participation)

Time spent for the campaign was about 4 years for all the learners including basic literacy, and post literacy period. A list of developmental activities organising for these learners A ,list collected and their participation status noted. The present income status of all men and women was collected and this economic status was compared to the status. they were enjoying during 1991 i.e before participation in the developmental activities which was as almost found to be NIL during the initial stage. lie analysis made in these parameters are reflected in the Table given below

PARTICIPATION OF NUMBER OF NEO-LITEPATES IN DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES

A - Activities

		At least in one activity	More than one
Rural	Men	30%	25%
	Women	35%	25%
Urban	Men	40%	30%
	Women	40%	30%
Tribal	Men	20%	15%
	Women	26%	28%
S.C.	Men	20%	10%
	Women	10%	100%

B - Levels of literacy increased

Tribal	Men	10%
	Women	7%
Non-Tribal	Men	12%
	Women	91%

C - Level of income per month increased

	1991 level (Rs.)	1996 level (Rs.)	% of increase
General (Men)	500	625	250%
Women	400	450	120%
Tribal Men	460	480	4%
Women	380	450	160%

ANALYSIS

Level of income of the women learners has not substantially increased where as the male learners have improved their economic status. In case of Tribal men, the income status remaining altogether same. the women learners have improved their income.

The rate of participation of the learners in developmental activities has increased in general but they have not derived any benefits through the participation. They have been able to establish themselves as successful agents of communication. The rate of participation of the tribal women is more than that of men.

The empowerment in case of women appeared to be in a more vigorous form than of the men but in case of tribal women, the empowerment has not gained any momentum. In general, the interest of the learners has helped them to motivate for sending their children to schools. They have become aware of their health and environment status.

Though it was not possible to interact with the individual learner, in other aspects of the campaign, the following conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the above analysis.

FINDINGS & CONCLUSIONS

• The campaign modality was not suitable to their needs and desires.
  
• The functional literacy mechanism has become an instrument to place their demands.
  
• In general, quality of life has not been improved
  
• The awareness in health and hygienic aspects was prominent.
  
• There was a protest against social evil from among the women.
  
• The community involvement was not significant.
  
• Rate of participation among the tribal learners has to be increased by designing suitable schemes with reference to the developmental activities to be implemented in their areas.
  
• More information technology is required to be imparted for improving their economic status.
  
• The agencies implemented income generating schemes are not educating the non-literates in general.

Contact Info:

Dr. D.C. Mishra
Orissa
India