Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 21, 2009:
With the enhancement of the status of women in the state, the literacy rate of female in the state has witnessed spectacular growth.
According to record maintained by the Manipur State Commission for Women, the female literacy rate of Manipur has grown tremendously with the introduction of English education after the 2nd World War.
The literacy rate of female, according to the 1951 general census, was an abysmally low 2.75%. A gradual growth in female's literacy rate has been recorded since then.
According to the 1961 census report, the literacy rate of women in the state saw a huge leap with 18.87%.The female's literacy rate has been put at 22.87% in 1971 general census.
In 1981, it was 34.61, while in 1991 it was 47.60%.According to the general census of 2001, the female's literacy rate had reached 60.50% against 53.70% of female literacy rate in the national level.
It may be noted that the male literacy rate of the state was 71.63%, according to census report of 1991.The male literacy rate reached 80.30% in 2001.The male literacy rate in the national level was 64.1% in 1991 and 75.4% in 2001. The increase in literacy rate is not without any result.
The economy of the state has been boost up with the larger participation of women in business and entrepreneur activities according to their capacity.
According to the 1991 census report, around 699,947 women had engaged themselves with various works.
61% of them were engaged in agricultural activities, 12 % of them were daily wage earners, 12% of them were engaged in wood production, 8% of them were engaged in fishery.
32% of the women were engaged in business and trade, 7.4%were employed as technical and professional workers while 66% of them were employed as merchandised workers.
The women were paid equal wages with their male counterparts.