India has an enormous population. Such a large populace means a higher scope as well. But this potential is useless unless we take some measures. In our rural and remote regions, a solid percentage of girls and females are still uneducated and illiterate.
Reason? Social biases and lack of resources. Proper strategies need to be implemented to overcome such barriers. We should also understand the root causes behind our high female illiteracy rates.
What are the barriers to female education?
- Social and cultural challenges
Even today, a considerable chunk of the Indian population believes in traditional gender roles. People in many corners of our country weigh boys more than girls. The families with limited resources, choose to send the boy to school.
They do not understand that independent women can benefit their families and society. Why must a woman be educated when all she must do is get married and rear kids? Such biases have been pulling girls down.
- Economic problems
We have countless free education programs to aid every girl child in India. However, some families do not have the means to cover the transportation and book costs. Since governmental initiatives do not cover such expenses, they must be incurred separately. Those people who are incapable of doing so, stay uneducated for generations.
- Regional issues and lack of infrastructure
Since most families incapable of sending their girls to schools live in rural areas, distance becomes an issue. Even if proper schools are established, they hesitate to allow their girls to travel long distances.
Either it is for safety concerns, or they don’t like their females traveling. Also, schools close to their villages lack the basic amenities and facilities. Without proper infrastructure and bathrooms, most teenage girls in India hesitate to attend classes.
How can we overcome these barriers?
- Laws and initiatives
Like most other countries, India’s authorities have also enforced several laws and regulations to encourage women and girls to pursue quality education. Under some schemes, incentives and monetary assistance are also promised to parents who send their daughters to schools. Even after all these policies and initiatives, loopholes exist. While primary education is our focus, opportunities for higher education for girls are still slim.
- Education and Awareness
Most parents have no idea about the perks of educating their girl children. Why waste money when they will be married off anyway? A shift in their mindsets is needed to handle such ignorance. Different educational and awareness programs are in India to tackle such biases. These events target households from marginalized sections and convince them to educate their daughters.
- Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies also take voluntary actions to help the marginalized. These actions can involve the education of underprivileged girls as well. If firms and businesses start training teachers and building infrastructure for education, it won’t be tough to educate a girl.
- Non-profits
The government works to push out policies, sure. However, some of these policies do not reach the target audiences. NGOs or Non-Profit Organisations try to fill the gaps. They make the governmental laws more effective by becoming a medium. They make people from rural areas aware of the regulations and initiatives. Besides this, NGOs also utilize volunteers and donations to teach children and build clean, quality schools.
Conclusion
There is no definite solution to educate a girl and tackle gender discrimination. We must use several procedures and aids simultaneously to get the requisite results. Just governmental efforts cannot help. Only Hardworking and dedicated NGOs cannot drive change either. Creating awareness can also only educate parents and girls.
For proper implementation and certified results, these processes need to be carried out at the same time. Thus, we all can contribute in some way to help women become socially and financially independent. It is time to educate every girl child in India and create a wiser society.