Urban female literacy in 11 Gujarat districts less than natrional average

While the state has achieved more than 10% rise in the literacy rate as compared to 2001 census, 11 districts in the state are below the national average in terms of female literacy rate in urban areas. According to the state census data of 2011, these districts are below the national average of 79.92%.

The census data shows that urbanisation in Gujarat has increased from 37.4% in 2001 to 42.6% in 2011. But the female literacy rate in the urban areas of districts like Banaskantha, Jamnagar, Kutch, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Dahod, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Amreli, Patan, and Sabarkantha are below the national average. 

Though all these districts have clearly shown a rise in the urban female literacy rate when compared to the 2001 census data, the government's efforts to educate the girl child have not borne fruit in the urban areas of these districts.

Also, out of these 11 districts, five of them - Dahod, Banaskantha, Kutch, Surendranagar and Patan - have lower female literacy rate even in rural areas. Total six districts in the state have lower  female literacy rate in rural areas than the national average of 58.75%; Panchmahals is the sixth. Districts like Dahod, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha have significant tribal population as well.

"What needs to be noted is the literacy rate of females in these districts in the last census and how much they have progressed. If we talk about the average, there would be some states with lower percentage," said state primary education secretary RP Gupta.