Page 37 - 15DEC2018E

COMMUNITY

Low literacy rate keeps

Muslims in poverty trap

Lack of higher education adversely affects the job prospects of the tion accounts for 8.5 per cent of per
community as dynamics of labour market are largely a matter of capita income for Muslims, followed by
Hindus 7.4 per cent, Christians 5.4 per
degree of knowledge and skills, writes MY SIDDIQUI cent and Sikhs 5.03 per cent. Higher
burden of the cost of education among
uslims continue to face dle school education among Muslims Muslims is a factor for their lowest
vicious circle of poverty is 257 and 198 per 1000 respectively. attendance rates.
with no light beyond the Compared to other communities, dis- High levels of illiteracy among Mus-
tunnel. This was high- tribution of Muslim population is the lims and their low levels of general edu-
M lighted in the recently least at the higher levels of education. cation ensure that they are trapped in a
held National Sample Survey Organisa- Likewise, the current attendance rate vicious circle of poverty. Lack of higher
tion (NSSO) reports. While NSSO (68th among Muslims is the lowest at all age education affects adversely their job as
round) survey provides estimates of groups, the reports reveal. dynamics of labour market is largely
education levels and job market indica- Number of Muslim males of 5-14 a matter of degree of knowledge and
tors across major religious communi- years in urban India attending edu- skills. Labour Force Participation Rate
ties, its 71st round takes note of levels of cational institutions is 869 per 1000, (LFPR), defined as number of persons
education in all religious groups in the the least among all religious groups. employed or seeking jobs, dependent
country. It’s higher among Christians 981, fol- on educational attainment, and qual-
According to the two NSSO sur - lowed by Sikhs 971, and Hindus 955. ity of employment is linked to levels of
vey reports, educational attainments Gaps in the current attendance rates education and skill. Muslims, lagging
among Muslims is the least of all the of Muslims and those of other religious in education and in abject poverty and
communities. In urban areas, number groups are increasingly seen at higher backwardness, cannot come out of it
of male Muslim postgraduates is 15 per age groups. Muslims have the lowest unless the governments at the Central
1,000, which is four times lower than attendance rates and educational and States levels intervene. est among Muslims, both in urban and and subsidised higher education to
that of other communities Hindus, attainments in higher education, Signs of Indian Muslims being rural areas. Among urban male, num- ensure school going children to con-
Christians and Sikhs. Situation is simi- judged by their income level and caught in deep poverty are noticeable ber of Muslims employed in regular tinue their higher education, and voca-
lar for Muslim women. Number of Mus- higher cost for post-secondary edu- in their low consumption expenditure, jobs is only 288 per 1000 employed tional education for those students not
lim men graduates is 71 per 1,000, less cation. NSSO surveys further reveal, poor jobs including LFPR, employment persons, while the corresponding fig- continuing their higher education from
than half the number of graduates per average per capita consumption status and worker population ratio. ures among urban Muslim women is nine class onward.
1,000 in other communities. Similarly, expenditure among Muslims is just NSSO data show LFPR among Muslims 249, lowest among all other communi- Above findings of NSSO surveys
Muslims educated up to secondary and 32.66 per day, the least among all reli- is 342 and 337 per 1000 in urban and ties. Number of regular employees per explodes the myth of “Muslim Appease-
higher secondary levels is 162 and 90 gious groups. It is highest among Sikhs rural areas respectively, the least 1000 employed is higher among Chris- Muslims — lagging in ment” raised regularly by the Sangh
per 1000 respectively, the least among 51.43 and Hindus 37.50. Average among all religious groups, implying tians 495 urban males and 647 urban Pariwar as a vicious propaganda to
all the communities. course fees for college degrees in that only 342 persons among Muslims females, followed by Hindus 463 and education and living divide society through the politics of
Poor achievement at higher levels of technical courses in government and in urban India are employed or avail- 43 and Sikhs 418 and 482 respectively. polarization, politics of marginaliza-
education is partly a reflection of simi- private unaided institutions is 25,783 able for works. Similarly, LFPR among Similarly, proportion of households in abject poverty tion, politics of exclusion and politics
larly low levels of school education or and 64,442 respectively, unafford- Muslim women is worst than women of with their major source of income — cannot come of hatred, ostensibly on the pretext of
illiteracy. Surveys reveal around half able for Muslims, given their per capita other religious groups. Given that Mus- from regular salaried jobs is the lowest inclusive development, just for elec-
the Muslim population over 15 years is income. Despite children up to 14 years lims live predominantly in urban areas among Muslims. out of this vicious toral gains. As a result, Muslims of India
either illiterate or has only primary or of age having a right to free and com- unlike other poorer communities, such Way forward for improving lot circle unless the are reeling under abject poverty, back-
middle level education. Number of illit- pulsory education, the average course low LFPR is because of Muslim’s low of Muslims suggested by NSSO sur- wardness, squalor, deprivation, wide
erates is highest among Muslims, which fee is 508 per student per academic levels of education. veys is that Central and State govern- governments at the scale discrimination amidst lurking fear
is 190 per thousand followed by Hindus session for all communities, its bur- Worker Participation Ratio (WPR), ments should take concerted steps to Centre and States and insecurity!
84, Sikhs 79 and Christians 57. Number den among Muslims being the highest. defined as the number of persons help them escape the vicious circle of
of persons with just primary or mid- Course fee for upper primary educa- employed per 1,000 persons, is the low- poverty, to provide special incentives levels intervene LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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