SPATIO-TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF GENDER DISPARITY IN LITERACY IN SANGLI DISTIRCT, MAHARASTRA

Abstract

Literacy, being one of the most important demographic elements, is a crucial indicator to measure human progress towards development. Literacy significantly impacts human capital, employment and social equality. Both genders contribute to development, yet benefits are not equitably shared. There is a slow rate of growth in female literacy as compared to male literacy. The existence of gender disparity in literacy brings sluggish and lop-sided development of the country. Despite the number of efforts made at national and international levels, there exist a significant number of illiterate women in the society, which is a disturbing factor for all development efforts. The present study attempts to identify the Spatio-temporal pattern of literacy rate and variation in gender disparity in literacy in the study area from 2001 to 2011. For this purpose, a simple percentage method for literacy rate and the modified disparity index as put forward by David Sopher, 1980 for gender disparity in literacy has been used. The analysis reveals that Gender Disparity Index (GDI).