Definition of Literacy

Definition of Literacy: Census India

Literacy, as defined in Indian Census operations, is the ability to read and write with understanding in any language. A person who can merely read but cannot write is not classified as literate. Any formal education or minimum educational standard is not necessary to be considered literate.

A person aged seven and above, who can both read and write in any one language is treated as literate.

Because poverty and illiteracy go hand in hand, the poor are disenfranchised, cut off from the democratic process.  Any account that does not discuss the political interests served by allowing a large proportion of the American people to remain disenfranchised does not touch the heart of the matter.  Before the Civil War in the United States, it was illegal to teach slaves to read, for reading was acknowledged, as the tool needed to understand the social, historical, behavioral and physical laws that control the human condition.  An apprehension of those forces invests human beings with the capacity to alter the conditions of their lives.

With the limited definition of ‘literacy’ being adopted for enumeration purposes, there has been a concern on the content of a Mass Literacy program. The focus of mass literacy efforts is in terms of basics – the mechanics of reading and attention to computation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) in mathematics.  It is recognized that these basics are not rooted in the goals of higher-order thinking – conceptualizing, inferring, inventing, testing, hypothesis and thinking critically.

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares:

“Everyone has the right to education.  Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.  Elementary education shall be compulsory.  Technical and Professional education shall be generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit”.

This Right is also repeated in the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child which seeks to ensure “Right to free and compulsory education at least in the elementary stages and education to promote general culture, abilities, judgment and sense of responsibility to become a useful member of society and opportunity to recreation, and play to attain the same purpose as of education”.

Illiteracy is currently defined as the inability to communicate in writing or through reading. But that is because before the advent of digital communication as a medium we had to rely on written communication through papers, books, pens, pencils, ink and printing. Now we can easily communicate orally using digital tools such as cell phones, multimedia, the Internet, etc.

Census India:

The information on literacy was collected in all censuses. The definition of literacy had been 'both ability to read and write in any language. In all the censuses besides data on literacy, additional information was also collected. In 1872 the information about 'youths up to age 20 attending school, college or under private tuition' was recorded. In 1881 Census, the information was collected whether the individuals were under instruction or not, if not, whether they were able to read and write. In 1891 Census, besides the information regarding the language in which the person was literate the foreign language known (if any) was also recorded. From 1901 to 1941 censuses, there was an additional question whether the literate knew English or not. Information on the standard of education was collected for the first time in 1941 census and after that, it was asked in every subsequent census. In 1971 the information on Literacy and Education level was collected from each individual.

Constitutional Provisions:

To secure to all its citizens EQUALITY of status and opportunity.

Fundamental Rights:

Census India 2001:

The provision in Article 45 is:

“The state shall endeavor to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years”.

It is 40 years since the deadline expired, and we are still to achieve it.

Educational Opportunity as a Fundamental Right:

Education is a value in itself and is the bedrock on which any edifice of equality of opportunity can be erected. It opens the road to progress and literacy is a measure of human development.  It is easier to plan for sound economic development and a stable political system in an educated society.  There is, therefore, every reason to canvass for Right to Education being incorporated as a Fundamental Right.