Ultra Scientist Vol. 24(1)B, 203-209 (2012). Trend of literacy pattern in Ahmednagar District (Maharashtra) SUNIL Y. NARKE* and MAJ. N.S. KORE** *Jamkhed Mahavidyalaya, Jamkhed Dist- Ahmednagar (MS) 413201 (INDIA) Email- [email protected] **Principal, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Mahvidyalaya, Mukhed, Dist- Nanded (MS) 431715 (INDIA) (Acceptance Date 7th February, 2012) Abstract Reduction of world disparity has become an important development strategy today. Literacy has been considered one of the most important attributes for social development. This study is based on acceptance of important of education. The study aims to trace the spatial pattern of literacy for different tahsil in the district. The study finds out disparity in literacy in the district. Similarly gender still appears to major issue, female does show their critical condition in literacy during the past than present in the study area not only in the rural area but also in the urban area. Last decade growth of female literacy also satisfied due to changing social attitude about education of girls and government policy are responsible for increase the literacy in the Ahmednagar district. Key words : General literacy, male-female literacy, rural-urban literacy, SC and ST literacy. Introduction well as different level of literacy between rural and urban area1-5. Population study is one of the major fields of human geography and scientific study Literacy has been defined differently of population with its quantitative and qualitative by different sources. According to definition nature. Literacy has been considered one of the given by dictionary, literacy referred to capacity most important attributes for social development. to read and write with certain level of education. It is seen as a prerequisite for economic growth, Literacy is normally considered in terms of both social mobility and political stability. Illiteracy, reading and writing with understanding. In by contrast, has frequently been related to India right from the beginning census, literates increased poverty in general. In terms of were enumerated and literacy rates were literacy there is marked regional variation as calculated. It is not necessary that a person 204 Sunil Y. Narke, et al. who is literate should have received any formal Methodology : education or should have addition to this for 1991 census, all children of age 6 years or less The entire work is based on secondary are treated as illiterate even they may be going data sources. In the present study, tahsil has to school and can read and write a few odd been considered as a basic unit of investigation. words. In earlier census, this limitation was up Study of temporal changes of population to the age of 4. character like literacy rate for the Ahmednagar district. It has been carried out for the year of The trends in literacy are indicative of 2001. With the help of simple statistical the pace at which the life and economy of a technique the values are computed in relation particular society are getting transformed. to percentage. The levels of literacy patterns Literacy levels display differentials in region are based on district average literacy rate and to region. The proportion of literates is different taluka wise literacy rate1-4. at urban-rural area, between male-female and also among different occupational and social Study area : groups. Large number of socio-economic factors such as nature of economy, levels of Ahmednagar district is generally urbanization, standard of living, freedom and central position in Maharashtra lying between status of females influence literacy patterns. 18º 10' and 20º 00' North latitudes and 73º30' Therefore Ahmednagar district has choose for and 75º37' East longitudes. The district is the study of literacy pattern. Literacy is irregular in shape and resembles a slanting essential for eradicating poverty and mental cross with a length of 200kms and a breadth isolation, for cultivating peaceful and friendly of 210kms. While the area of the district accounts international relation and for permitting the free for 5.5 percent of the total area of the state, play of demographic process6-7 (Chandana and the district population constitutes 4.2 percent Sidhu). of the total population of the state (2001). Among the 35 districts of the state, the district Objective : rank first in terms of area, sixth in terms of population. The district is a part of western The main aim of the present paper is plateau with protruded hills, the micro level division to understand literacy character of population of Deccan plateau. The district as a whole is in Ahmednagar district. This is viewed in the an elevated tableland which has denuded by light of following specific objectives. the Godavari and Bhima rivers basin. According 1. To study the spatial pattern of literacy rate to Census 2001, Ahmednagar district has a total in the study area. population of 4,040,642 comprising of 2,083,053 2. To understand the male-female literacy rate males and 1,957,569 females. The Ahmednagar in study area. district reported 25, 98,597 persons as literates 3. To study the spatial pattern of literacy rate in 2001census, they constituted 75.3 percent of rural-urban area. as literate's population (Excusing 0-6 age 4. To understand SC and ST literacy rate in group) of the district. It is predominantly an the study area. agricultural district with about 75 percent of Trend of literacy pattern in ahmednagar District Maharashtra. 205 its population living in rural area and depend i.e. 80.7 percent and 54.3 percent and upon agriculture and allied activities5-7. respectively. Four tahsils have literacy rate above the district average viz. Sangamner, Discussion and Result Rahata, Shrirampur and Nagar and remaining ten tahsils have literacy rate below the district The imbalance of literacy rate in India average viz. Akole,Kopargaon, Newasa, has become an issue of concern since last two Shevgaon, Pathardi, Rahuri, Parner, Shrigonda, decades. Literacy rate is many times considered Karjat and Jamkhed. as a fairly reliable index of the socio-economic development of a region. The variation of There is a significant difference in literacy, many time, indicate the place of which literacy rates between male and female in the the society is getting transformed. Level of total areas of the district. In literacy rate literacy rate influences to a significant extent females are lagging behind male in all tahsils, 3-7 the socio-economic development of a region. however the gap varies from tahsil to tahsil . Literacy rate also influences fertility, mortality, sex composition and economic structure of the Female literacy pattern : population of a region. Without an analysis of In case of female literacy rate for five literacy pattern, therefore, a study of the population geography of a region will not be tahsil have above the district average viz. Sangamner, Rahata, Shrirampur, Nagar and complete1-7. Rahuri tahsils and remaining nine tahsils have General literacy pattern: female literacy rate below the district average viz. Akole, Kopargaon, Newasa, Shevgaon, Ahmednagar district reported 2,598,597 Pathardi, Parner, shrigonda, Karjat and Jamkhed persons as literates in 2001Census. They tahsils. There were significant differences constitute 75.3 percent of the total population literacy rates between male and female and (excluding 0-6 age group) of the district. For the total areas of the district. In rural areas of the district as whole the literacy rates for males the district literacy rate was 72.9 percent with are substantially higher compared to females male literacy having 84.2 percent and female in both rural and urban areas. The tahsilwise literates accounting for 61.1 percent. Nagar breakup shows that Nagar tahsil has the higher tahsil has the highest literacy rate of 78.9 literacy rate of 84.6 percent and Jamkhed tahsil percent the corresponding male and female has the lowest literacy rate of 67.8 percent. It is observed that the tahsils having urban centers literacy rate were also high in this tahsil i.e. have literacy rates higher than other, confirming 88.7 percent and 68.5 percent respectively. The the fact that urban have better infrastructure lowest literacy rate was note in Jamkhed tahsil as far as education facilities are concerned the corresponding male and female rates are male as well as female's literacy rate highest 78.6and 50.0 percent respectively. The female in Nagar tahsil i.e. 91.8 percent and 76.8 literacy rate in urban area was 77.3 percent. percent respectively and male as well as The difference between male-female literacy female literacy was lowest in Jamkhed tahsil in urban area varies from 11.1 to 23.4. 206 Sunil Y. Narke, et al. Table Percentage of general literates by tahsils (Census-2001) Name of Total Number of literates Percentage of literates Gap in Tahsil /Rural Male- Urban Person Male Female Person Male Female female literacy rate Total 1,56,267 92,654 63,613 70.0 82.1 57.6 24.5 Akole Rural 1,56,267 92,654 63,613 70.0 82.1 57.6 24.5 Urban 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 2,83,172 1,64,646 1,18,526 75.5 85.8 64.7 21.1 Sangmner Rural 222415 130935 91480 73.0 84.2 61.2 23 Urban 60757 33711 27046 86.4 92.4 79.9 12.5 Total 175305 103304 72001 74.6 85.2 63.3 21.9 Kopergoan Rural 126907 75578 51329 72.9 84.2 60.9 23.4 Urban 48398 27726 20672 79.5 88.0 70.4 17.6 Total 193003 110655 82348 78.3 87.5 68.5 19.0 Rahata Rural 161761 92799 68962 77.7 87.2 67.8 19.4 Urban 31242 17856 13386 81.3 89.5 72.5 17.0 Total 171911 98625 73286 78.0 87.7 67.8