Illiteracy and poverty have been an age-old issue in India. Every major problem that proves to be an obstruction in the country’s growth is like a rootlet attached to the mother root - illiteracy. Illiteracy causes a lack of skilled labourers and professionals, causing unemployment. This gives way to poverty, which in turn reduces the aggregate economy of the country, thus hindering its development. Poverty caused by illiteracy opens the door to social problems like discrimination, overpopulation and unhygienic conditions, too.
Illiteracy has its roots set in the rural parts of India. According to a survey conducted in 2015, 29% of India’s rural population remains uneducated. There could be several reasons for this. Due to the parents being illiterate, the income of most rural families remains low. These low incomes, and no education to back their logic, cause them to view money spent on educating their children as ‘unfruitful’. They send their children to primary school but don’t let them finish secondary education to make them work to provide for the family. This also leads to child labour.
Many social evils are prevalent to this day due to the lack of an educated population. An illiterate population continues to follow the old mindset of gender stereotypes and caste distinctions, curbing the social growth of the country.
The economic hitch is existent due to poverty. Poverty causes the tax collected by the government for the betterment of the country to decrease. It causes homelessness which accounts for the development of slums in urban cities. These unfavourable conditions also cause the tourist population of such a beautiful country to be quite low, due to the lack of necessary hygiene and low living conditions.
India is a country of rich culture. With the right society and economy, it has the scope to be a very powerful nation. However, this power will only come with a literate population. This change can’t be made with a snap of our fingers, but with the right actions being taken and help being provided, India can and will soar high.
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