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Abstract

Based on the 1991 census this paper has sought to analyse the nature and level of infrastructure available for promoting education in different states of India, more particularly in their rural areas. The study has tried to explain reasons for the low level of literacy in rural areas across different states of the Indian Union. It has been contended in the paper that it is quite an uphill task for the government to achieve education for all in rural areas in near future, considering the lack of adequate facilities for education. In addition, the task is difficult also because of rapid rise in population, resulting from a faster rate of decline in mortality than fertility. Rapid growth in population has largely hindered the government's sustained effort to fulfil the constitutional obligation of providing compulsory and free education to all children in the age group of 6-14. In addition rapid rise in population other factors such as poor commitment for the cause of universal education, inefficient bureaucracy, resource crunch and poverty are no less accountable for the low level of literacy in rural India.

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The state of education in rural India: Problems and prospects

Abstract

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