ROLE OF EDUCATION IN EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AMONG THE SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES IN ANDHRA PRADESH

In ancient India women enjoyed a high status in the society. They were provided educational opportunities comparable to men. The social evils like discrimination of Dalits, Purdha ,sati, enforced widowhood ,and child marriage crept into the society much later and resulted in the degradation of their status. There were no institutions for education of girls during Muslim period, but girls did receive religious education in the recitation of the Quran in their homes. Under the British rule, the East India Company was reluctant to take responsibility of girl?s education for a long time, due to the doctrine of religious neutrality, which was adopted by the government so as not offend the natives even on social customs that had nothing to do with religion. The education commission (1882) took a serious note of the status and education of women and rated it be extremely backward and recommended measures for improvement. But, because of cretin social-political reasons, no noticeable progress could be made. After independence, the University Education Commission (1948-49), set up by the government of India, laid special emphasises on the education of women and recommended that in view of the similar fields of activity for men and women, and some specific requirements of women ,maximum facilities should be given for education in Home Economics and Home Management.