THE NEED FOR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

Literacy levels in rural Andhra Pradesh are claimed to be 48%, and women’s literacy is only 38.5%. These figures are probably a gross overestimate, as many of the claimed literates (in the rush to achieve national literacy targets) are able to do little more than write their name.

Literacy is an important component of development. Without literacy, poor people will continue to be taken advantage of, will be denied access to better job opportunities, and will have a lower sense of self worth. Women in poor rural areas are particularly vulnerable, and face various problems including: 

• Lack of access to education, health, nutrition to a girl child
• HIV/AIDS
• Early marriage
• Domestic violence 

Women have little or no knowledge of important issues that affect their lives (eg, Men are more aware than women about HIV/AIDS and the treatments that are needed, and reading sessions could cover issues of HIV and family planning). Women are confined to the house, and are kept involved in domestic work. Their involvement in self help groups and different other networks like farmers communities, has bought some change, but they feel that there is a long way to go.

Literacy cannot be developed in the absence of a reading culture, and the Vidyanjali Village Reading groups will help to create a reading culture. The project will bring books to women in villages, then enable them to read and discuss the books, and decide what action they can take to improve their lives.

Find out how the groups work.