Rural Literacy in Punjab and Haryana: A Comparative Current Scenario and Changes during the Last Four Decades

The study examines the trend of literacy and gap between male-female literacy (1971 to 2011) in comparative mode among Punjab, Haryana and India. The study also analysis the spatial pattern of literacy as well as gender disparities in literacy at district level between Punjab and Haryana and reveals that Punjab has recorded highest total literacy (except 2011) and female literacy as well as lowest gap between male-female Literacy during the entire time period. Haryana was backward in literacy at all levels (total, male and female) up to 1971 but after this, Haryana has recorded much progress, total literacy of Haryana is remaining highest in 2011 census while male literacy is remaining highest in Haryana after 1971. Rapidly growth is recorded in female literacy but its status is not satisfactory especially, in Haryana and India. Literacy gap between male-female has recorded highest in Haryana during the entire time period however, it is still high in Haryana and India. Mewat district of Haryana and Mansa district of Punjab are very backward in literacy at all levels while southern districts of Punjab such as Muktsar, Bathinda have almost same condition. Palwal, Kaithal, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts of Haryana as well as almost western frontier districts and the districts which are situated around to southern districts in Punjab, contain low literacy. Value of male-female literacy differential index in Haryana (0.31) is almost double compare to Punjab (0.16). Entire western and southern districts of Haryana (except Kaithal, Sirsa and Gurgaon) have high differential between male-female literacy however, Mewat, Palwal and Mahendragarh districts contain very high differential while entire Punjab has low differential.