Critical Evaluation of Plans of Social Sector

8/3/2019 Critical Evaluation of Plans of Social Sector

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CRITICAL EVALUATION OF

PLANS OF SOCIAL SECTORS

Population and Family Welfare

Population control and family welfare has been an important part of local and district

planning to reduce growth rate of population, reduce infant mortality rate and provide

nutrient food to pregnant ladies and mothers of infant child so that more healthy

population growth may be achieved. For this purpose plan outlay on family welfare has

been increased for the country as a whole from Rs. 31208 crore in Seventh Plan to Rs.

65000 crores in Eight Plan. In Ninth and Tenth Plan there has not been separate

allocation for family welfare; it has been merged with social services. In plans before

Seventh Plan family welfare has been merged with health. But beginning from First Plan

Uttar Pradesh along with other states has given adequate attention to reduce birth and

death rates and made programmes for healthy families. However, in Uttar Pradesh

population growth rate has been higher than all-India (Table 8.1) in recent decades.

Table 8.1: Population Growth Rate in U.P. Compared with all-India

(Rates in percentages)Census U.P. All-India

1951

1961

1981

1991

2001

16.44

19.54

25.39

25.61

25.85

18.65

24.80

24.65

23.87

21.54

Source: Registrar General of India.

Note: U.P. population growth rate after 2001 is estimated at 20 percent which is higherthan all India average of 1.9 percent.

During 1951-61 population growth in U.P. at 16.49 percent has been lower than all-India

growth of 18.65 percent. During 1961-71 also U.P.'s growth of population was lower than

that of India as a whole but after 1971 U.P. population has been growing faster than all-


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India and during 1991-2001, the gap has increased. The faster growth of U.P. population

in last three decades and after 2001 can be either due to higher fertility of women in U.P.

or due to increase in migration or lesser use of contraceptives. There is no reason to

believe that in last 30 years migration to U.P. has increased. Actually due to employmentopportunities outside U.P. more people are leaving the state. Hence, higher growth of

population in U.P. as compared to all India is basically due to higher birth rates in U.P.

coupled with fall in death rates.

In order to find out success or failure of family planning some persons were contacted.

According to them after emergency of 1975 was lifted in 1977 couples produced children

with vengeance who were scared during emergency period. Hence for decade of 1971-81

rate of population growth of U.P. exceeded that of all-India. It is because poor persons do

not believe in family planning because they feel that more hands will mean more persons

to earn. Further, Muslim community which accounts for 14 percent of population of U.P.

do not believe in family planning so all the programmes of family planning have failed in

illiterate rural U.P. So far only in cities and towns people are taking to family planning.

The programmes of operations, condoms etc. have reached to a very limited extent to

rural U.P.

The second part of family welfare is that of infant mortality rate which should

comedown. In this respect also U.P. has very low position at 28th rank (Table 8.2).

Table 8.2: Infant Mortality Rate in U.P.

Year Males Females Total

(per 000 births)

1961

U.P. 131 128 130


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All India

2002

U.P.

All India2003

U.P.

All India

2006

U.P.

All India

122

76

62

69

57

70

56

108

84

65

84

64

73

59

115

80

63

76

60

71

57

Source: Economic Survey 2007-08 from data released by Registrar General of India,

page 5-115.

It is evident from Table 8.2 that between 1961-2006 infant mortality rate t in U.P. has

declined from 130 per thousand birth in 1961 to 71 in 2006 but it is much higher than

lowest in Kerala where in 2006 it was only 10 and in last 42 years there has been much

faster improvement than in U.P. in India as a whole. As mortality rate is highly correlated

with health facilities, and poverty U.P. could not achieve similar results as some otherstates. Life expectancy at birth in U.P. during 1996-2002 at 59.1 years is lower than all-

India average of 62.5 years and the highest of 73.9 years in Kerala perhaps because of

high literacy rate and higher per capita income as compared to U.P. It seems that low

family welfare in U.P. should not be blamed to failure of plan programmes alone. It is

combination of many factors as poor response of people to family planning, low level of

education and high rate of poverty which all has contributed for low achievement in

family welfare in U.P. than what is desired.

Education and Literacy


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There has been considerable improvement in education facilities and literacy rate in U.P.

over the years. Even in short period of four years (2000-01 to 2004-05) the number of

primary / basic schools has gone up from 97886 in 2000-011 to 129976 in 2005-06

showing a growth of 32.78 percent due to plan efforts. Now every village has a schoolwithin a distance of 1 to 3 km. There has been increase in middle and senior level and

higher education institutes also (Table 8.3).

Table 8.3: Growth of Educational Institutes in U.P. in Recent Years

Type of Recognized Education

Institute

2000-01 2005-06 Percent

Change

l. Primary / Junior Basic Schools

2. Middle / Senior Basic Schools

3. High Schools / Senior Intermediate Schools

4. Colleges for General Education

5. Professional Education Institutes

6. Universities / Deemed Universities

97886

22119

9918

758

189

30

129976

36876

12706

1729

5179

5179

32.78

61.49

28.11

128.10

2640.21

17163.33

Source: Economic Survey 2007-08.

It is clear from Table 8.3 that there has been phenomenal increase in Primary, Junior,

Middle and Senior basis schools. This increase is much greater than increase in the

population of the state which suggests that adequate facilities have been created for

education up to middle school (eighth class) education but at higher level there has been

reduction in number of institutions at high school level because in some schools there

were not enough students. There has been steep decline in number of professional

education institute but in recent years it has been more than compensated by setting up

large number of colleges in the private sector especially in Western U.P. districts for

teaching management and engineering education but for other professional education

especially medical acute shortage continues.

In Table 8.4 enrolment of girls and boys in the age group of 6 to 14 years is given from

which it is clear that percentage of girls sent to school is much less than boys, both for


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primary and secondary education because of reluctance of parents to send their children

to schools. Hence, it is not enough to open schools but children should enroll themselves

for studies.

With an increase in educational facilities literacy rate in U.P. has gone up steeply from

12.02 percent in 1951 to 56.27 percent in 2001 (Table 8.5). Though it is a big

improvement but in 2001 U.P.'s literacy rate is much below 90.86 percent of Kerala and

64.84 percent for all-India (Table 8.5).

Table 8.4 Enrollment Ratio in Classes I-VIII in Uttar Pradesh in 2005-06

RateBoys Girls

Class I-V (6-11 Years) 110.63 14.15

Class VI-VIII (11-14 Years) 57.82 46.29

Source: Ministry of Human Resource Government of India - Selected Education

statistics.

Table 8.5: Trend in Literacy Rate of Uttar Pradesh (1951-2001)

Year Uttar

Pradesh

All-India Highest

Kerala

UP as % of

All-India

1951

19611971

1981

1991

2001

12.02

20.8723.99

32.65

40.71

56.27

18.33

28.3034.45

43.57

52.21

64.84

47.18

55.0859.75

78.85

89.81

90.86

65.58

73.7569.64

74.94

71.97

79.0

Source: Registrar General of India.


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It will be observed from Table 8.5 that, over the years gap in literacy rate of U.P. and

India has declined in last fifty years. While in 1951 U.P., literacy rate was 65.58 percent

of all-India in 2001 the gap has narrowed down when U.P. literacy rate has increased to79.07 percent of all-India. However, U.P. literacy rate at 56.27 percent was much lower

then 90.86 percent for Kerala which may be said to be fully literate state. In Tale 8.6

various aspects of education and literacy are given based on survey from which following

points emerge.

1. The parents are not satisfied with the quality of education imparted in government

schools because in some places there is no proper building, there is lack of desks

and chairs and often teachers are absent because of which education suffers.

Moreover, in many schools teachers take long time and education suffers because

substitute is rarely provided.

2. The level of dissatisfaction in more for higher classes which forces parents to send

their wards to private schools even in rural areas. Same is the case with general

education colleges but wards are satisfied with professional colleges. However in

the opinion of public their number is far too small in relation to demand which

results that many students are not able to get admission.

3. The number of schools is adequate but the reason of low literacy is that wards of

U.P. do not send all their children to school specially girls because of certain

inhibition. It is felt that there is no need for higher education to girl child.

Table 8.6: Education and Literacy Survey of Western Uttar Pradesh

Number of Respondents 200

Percent of Respondents

1. Are you satisfied with the quality of education in government primary schools?


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Yes 12

No

2. Are you satisfied with middle level schools of government?Yes 7

No

3. Are you satisfied with government general colleges?

Yes 3

No

4. Are you satisfied with professional institutions of government?

Yes 91

No

5. Do you feel that number of junior level institutions adequate?

Yes 94

No 6

6. Do you feel that number of general education colleges adequate?

Yes 17

No

7. Are you satisfied with number of colleges for professional education (public and

private)?

Yes 94


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No

8. What are the reasons for your dissatisfaction?

(a) All the students who want to take admissionare not admitted 100

(b) Classes are over crowded 100

(c) Many areas of State do not have

adequate facilities 98

9. Do you send all your children in the age group of 6-11 years to school?

Yes 39

No

10. Do you send your ward in the age group of 11 to 14 years to school?

Yes 40

No

11. Why do you not send your children to schools?

(a) Education is not useful in life 75

(b) Children help family in earning 39

(c) Girl children do not need education 43

Health

Heath is considered wealth and U.P. planners also so believed and have made an

ambition plan as discussed in Chapter 3. It was decided that there should be primary

health centers for all by 2000. It was planned to establish one sub centre for primary

health care for 5000 rural population and one sub center for 3000 population in internal

areas. It was also decided to have one Primary Health Centre with a MBBS doctor for


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every 30,000 rural population in plains and one for every 20,000 persons in hilly, tribal,

backward and difficult areas. But even in 2006 targets have not been fully achieved and

more important issue is that quality of services is very poor. The subentries lack in basic

facilities of a proper building for a center and other infrastructure.

Primary Health Centre has to be visited regularly by a qualified MBBS doctor as per

programme. But there are many places where no doctors are available either because of

shortage of doctors or frequent leave by doctors. Most of the times prescribed medicines

are not available and patients, therefore, are forced to buy medicines from the market.

The cleanliness, proper toilets, equipment other accessories and staff also lacks.

Table 8.7: Evaluation of Status of Sub Centre and Primary Health Centre in U.P.


01. Is there public health Sub centre within a reasonable distance from

your place

Yes

No

93

7

2. Is there a Public Health Centre near your village?

Yes

No

87

13

3. Are you satisfied with the facilities / services available in your sub

centre?

Yes

No

37

63


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4. If you are not satisfied with sub centre what are its deficiencies?

(i) Building is very shabby & dirty

(ii) There is shortage of equipment

(iii) Tables and other infrastructure is very poor and dirty(iv) Staff often is absent

(v) Staff is discourteous

(vi) There is shortage of bandages and prescribed medicines

92

9891

32

79

675. Are you satisfied with public health center of your locality?

Yes

No

9

91

6. If you are dissatisfied what are the reasons for you dissatisfaction?

(i) Poor building

(ii) Poor furniture and other infrastructure

(iii) Dirty toilets

(iv) Dirty linens

(v) Doctor does not visit regularly

(vi) Necessary equipment is not available and whatever is

allocated is often out of service

(vii) Prescribed medicines are not available in the stock

(viii) Junior staff is discourteous

92

98

90

87

89

57

43

97

It was decided to establish one Community Health Centre (CHC) with specialist facilities

for treatment of rural masses either for one lakh population or for four Public Health

Centre. But so far target has not been achieved and those which have been set up have a

number of deficiencies which in brief are as under:

1. There is not adequate minimum infrastructure for diagnosis like pathology lab,

ECG machine, X-ray machine which are minimum necessities.


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2. The equipment supplied is often out of service, forcing patients to get diagnosis by

private centers by paying though their nose.

3. There is lack of cleanness.

4. There is shortage of staff, medicines, beds, linen and supporting staff causing greatinconvenience to patients.

It was planned in Sixth Plan of U.P. to have 200 bedded hospitals in each district having

population upto 10 lakhs, 300 bedded hospitals in each district having a population of

above ten lakhs and 500 bedded hospital at divisional headquarters. But none of these

targets have been achieved.

In last 57 years in U.P. only four medical colleges have been added at Jhansi, Allahabad,

Kanpur and Meerut in the public sector and at Meerut, Ghaziabad and Bareilly in the

private sector. At present out of 70 districts only nine districts have medical colleges.

There are other 58 districts with populations of 10 lakhs or more each; none of these

districts have 300 bedded State hospital leaving the public at the mercy of private doctors

and hospitals and where they have been established they have a number of deficiencies

which were as under:

1. Most of the hospitals are overcrowded and so doctors are not available to examine

patients properly.

2. All the hospitals lack modern equipment like ultrasound, angiography and other

equipment.

3. The pathology laboratories are highly inadequate in number of technicians and

equipment.

4. Number of doctors have increased very slowly and are not adequate to care for all

the patients who visit these hospitals.

5. There are only a few district hospitals who have specialists for specific diseases

and general physicians look after all patients.


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6. When any doctor goes on leave a substitute is not provided and patients suffer.

7. Linens, beds etc. are very dirty and often are not replaced when they need to be

replaced or require repair.

8. When any equipment goes out of order it takes very long time to get it repairedand in the mean time patients are forced to visit private clines for diagnosis.

9. There is shortage of medicines most of the time and even poor persons are forced

to buy them from chemists.

10. The behaviour of staff many a times is not courteous and sympathetic.

In state and center plans special efforts are required to control blindness, TB leprosy,

malaria and other communicable diseases. In this respect efforts are far from adequate.

Number of cases of contract treated every year is less than new cases. Hence backlog

instead of declining is increasing. In case of malaria state has completely failed to

eradicate the disease but in case of leprosy and TB. There has been considerable success.

Labour and Employment

Is per 2001 census in U.P. there were 5.30 crore workers in a population of 16.61 crore

that is 31.91 percent of total population. Out of total workers 65.8 percent are employed

in agriculture (cultivators plus labourers). Employment in household industry is of 5.6

percent of total; the rest 25.5 percent are employed in other activities (Table 8.8).

Table 8.8: Employment in U.P. as per 2001 Census

Total Males Females

Total Workers

(Crores)

5.30 4.10 1.20

Categories of Workers (Percentage of Total)

Cultivators 41.1 42.7 36.1

Agriculture Labour 24.7 20.1 39.6

Household Industry Workers 5.6 4.7 8.3

All Others 28.5 32.5 16.0

Source: Registrar General of India


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It is a point to be noted that cut of total workers 27.1 percent are marginal workers who

get employment only when extra hands are needed during sowing and harvesting season.

Further, as would be noted from table 8.9 even in Western Uttar Pradesh there is highincidence of unemployment of educated persons; the situation in other parts of the state is

expected to be worse.

Table 8.9: Status of Unemployment in Districts of Agra,

Mathura and Meerut of Educated Persons

Agra Mathura Meerut

Number of Respondents 75 75 75

Percentage of Respondents

1. Are You employed?

Yes

No

50

50

42

58

60

40

2. Are you employed throughout the

year?

Yes

No

90

10

82

18

95

5

3. Are you satisfied with your pay

scale?

YesNo

595

496

1189

4. Are you Satisfied with the nature of

your job?

Yes

No

73

27

78

22

65

35


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5. How long are you employed?

(a) Six months or less

(b) Six months or one year

(c) One year to two years(d) Over two years

21

16

4914

15

20

5114

11

23

588

The survey suggests that 40 to 58 percent of educated youth surveyed are employed for a

period of six months over two years. The largest numbers of educated persons who are

unemployed fall in the bracket of one year to two years.

There is Minimum Wages Act for workers. The survey suggests that except in peek

season unskilled workers are not being paid minimum wages. Further, most of the

workers do not get work round the year. In rural areas they get work only when there is

season of season of sowing and harvesting and rest of the year there is little work. (Table

8.10)

Table 8.10 Status of Unskilled Workers in Uttar Pradesh


Percentage

1. Do you get work throughout the year?

Yes

No

12

88

2. Which are the months when do you get work?

(i) Sowing season of crops

(ii) Harvesting season

(iii) Other Seasons

95

100

20

3. Are you a construction worker?

Yes

No

24

76

4. Are you able to get work round the year as construction


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worker?

Yes

No

15

85

5. What are the periods of year when you do not get

employed?

Rainy Season

Other Season

87

13

6. Are you getting wages as prescribed by government of

U.P?

Yes

No.

Do not know

27

61

12

7. Are there improvement in employment opportunities

during last five years of employment?

Yes

No.

Do not know

81

12

9

Poverty Elevation

The basic purpose of all the five-year plans, whether of states or center, has been to

gradually remove poverty so that every citizen of India may live comfortable life.

However, these efforts have miserably failed specially in Uttar Pradesh. Incidence of

poverty is estimated by the Planning Commission on the basis of the large scale sample

surveys on household consumer expenditure conducted by the National Sample Survey

Organisation. The latest such survey relates to the 55 th round conducted in 1999-2000 and

no official estimates are available beyond this date. The next official estimates of poverty

incidence will be based on the NSSO round of large scale sample survey conducted in


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2004-05, results of which were expected in 2006-07 but have not been released as yet.

According to 1999-2000 data U.P. was 10th Poorest State in terms of poverty with 31.15

percent population below the poverty line as against national average of 26.10 percent.

There are twenty states where poverty rates are below national average and in eight statesnamely Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Goa

and J & K is below ten percent. Between 1997-78 and 1999-2000 the poverty rate for the

country as a whole has declined from 51.3 percent in 1977-78 to 26.1 percent in 1999-

2000 but rate of poverty reduction in U.P. has been very slow. In U.P. poverty rate

declined by less than nine percent from 40 percent in 1993-94 to 31.15 percent in 1999-

2000 and continues to be above all India average even in later years as per discussions

with government officials. The numbers of states have been successful in significantly

reducing the incidence of poverty by improving productivity of agriculture, faster

development of industrial and service sectors and greater success in poverty removal

programmes. Actually in many districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh poverty rote is much

higher than the average and these districts have poverty rate equal to Orissa, Bihar and

Madhya Pradesh.

In order to reduce poverty rate over the years anti-poverty programmes have been

strengthened to generate additional employment, create productive assets, improve

productivity of agriculture, improve technical and entrepreneurial skills, raise the income

level of poor, strengthen cottage and rural industries and encouraging setting up more

small, medium and large scale industries in the State.

A number of programmes have been started for rural development, Pradhan Mantri Gram

Sadak Yojna, Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, Sampoorna Gram Razgar Yojana,

Pradhan Mantri Gram Udaya Yojana, Antyodaya Anan Yojana, Annapurana, Indira

Vikas Yojana, Jaiprakash Rozgar Guarantee Yojana, Swaran Jayanti Sahari Rozgar

Yojana, Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana etc. The U.P. has lagged behind because of

two factors. First, allocation to U. P. has not been in relation to its overall poor


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population. Secondly targets could not be achieved because state government could not

allocate its financial quota and authorities have been lethargic in implementation of

programmes. Further, politicalisation of most of the schemes and frequent changes in

government has also resulted in slow progress.

The main employment generating sector has been agriculture followed by trade and other

services. In view of lack of intensive cultivation in central, Eastern and Bundelkhand

regions of U.P. the employment in agricultural sector has grown very slowly and in the

years when there have been floods there has been negative growth in employment

generation in rural sectors. Moreover, growth of trade, industry and service sectors could

not be achieved. As a combined result of all these factors per capita income of U.P. has

remained one of the lowest in India as discussed in earlier chapters. Moreover, poor,

ignorant and literate persons have not paid due attention to family welfare and planning

because of which poverty rate in Uttar Pradesh continues to be high as compared to India

as a whole and neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation

As per data made available the State Government all the villages have been provided safe

drinking water but as per housing census of 2001, 10 percent villagers are required to

bring water from far away places from their houses. The problem of water continues to

require attention in Bundelkhand region. Sensation facilities are far from adequate for

which partly state government is responsible. Today even in towns served by Nagar

Nigams there is not proper system of disposal of waste. It stinks in residential colonies.

The position in smaller towns and villages is worst where as yet only at few places there

is drainage system, and at most of the places there is no drainage and waste disposal

system causing diseases and abs noxious atmosphere.

Housing


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As per 2001 census In U.P. there are 3.43 crore houses for a population of 16.61 crore

that is one house for every 4.84 persons which means that every family of 5 persons has a

house but the position is not satisfactory. Out of total houses only 3.30 crore houses meoccupied and out of them only 2.42 crore are being used for residential purposes which

means that there is one house for 6.86 persons and some persons have more than one

house. There is also serious problem of slums in towns and cities of the state like Kanpur,

Allahabad, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi etc. Moreover, in places where there are adequate

number of houses 29.1 percent are made of grass, bamboos etc. which is very risky and

every year they are subject to fire risk. There are other 31.8 percent houses of tiles, slate,

and metal and asbestos sheets and stone which are not comfortable during summer season

(Table 8.11).

Table 8.11: Quality of Houses in U.P.

S. No Material of Roof Number of

Houses

(Lakh)

Percent %

of

total houses

1

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

Grass thatch, bamboos, wood etc.

Plastic, plyTiles

Slate

Metal, asbestos sheets

Bricks

Stone

Concrete

Other Materials

74.97

1.0448.68

1.59

2.41

71.41

29.38

27.31

6.81

29.1

0.418.9

0.6

0.9

27.7

11.4

10.6

0.4247.60 100.00

Source: Registrar General of India

Further, it may be noted that 68.5 percent of houses do not have latrine and in 49 percent

houses there is no separate kitchen. It seems that in the matter of providing latrine state


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has failed miserably, causing problem of sanitation and privacy. In villages ladies,

children and males have to go to jungle for easing out or children are asked to ease near

house causing problem of sanitation.

Further, if one looks to achievement under various schemes of house construction like

Indira Awas Vikas Yojana, EWS Scheme, Slum dwellers houses the achievement year

after year is far below target.

In case of Sulabh latrines achievements are very poor forcing people to go in open for

latrine.

Empowerment of Social Disadvantage Groups

In our country some persons do not get all facilities enjoyed by rest of the society based

on caste, religion, sex, age, level of income, physical disabilities or for some other

reasons. These persons are called a disadvantageous group which is against the principle

of Indian constitution. Therefore, various, central, state and district plans have made

efforts to reduce social injustice by empowering socially disadvantageous groups but so

far progress has been very slow throughout the country and Uttar Pradesh is no exception

and Social injustice continuous to be in many forms. Article 17 has abolished

untouchability and its practice in any form is not only for bidden but also punishable by

law. However, it continues unabated especially in rural areas. The society is divided into

various castes continues to be so even now and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes

continue to be discriminated specially those who are poor and do not command any

authority. As in Uttar Pradesh there are more poor persons they continue to be

disadvantage groups. There have been occasions when there have been austerities on

scheduled castes and other backward classes but those guilty have gone unpunished or

got very little punishment.


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Another historical fact for disadvantageous groups has been that small farmers have been

in the clutches of land lords. Hence zamindari has been abolished but even now many of

poor framers with small land holdings continue to b depressed and exploited by big

farmers throughout U.P.

Economic poverty and illiteracy are other causes of large under privileged population.

State government has been successful in reducing illiteracy rate in U.P. as already

discussed but Uttar Pradesh continues to be very poor which is one of the factors for high

number of depressed persons.

Physically a disability is another cause of disadvantage State government has taken

mainly two steps in this direction. Firstly to help disabled persons to get free limbs and

training them to do some jobs efficiently, in spite of disabilities. Secondly, in government

jobs there is certain reservation of posts for disabled persons. However, there have been

cases when even after selection they are not allowed to join posts and there have been

cases when matter has to be reported to the Prime Minister but even then all of them have

not got redressed. The discussions with some disadvantage groups and social reformers

suggest that disabled persons continue to suffer.

Empowerment of Women

"The principles of gender equality and equity and protecting womens right have been

prime concern in India thinking right from the days of independence1. But plan efforts

have not succeeded and the problem is mare serious in Uttar Pradesh because of higher

rate of illiteracy. It has been recommended in Ninth Plan that one-third of seats should be

reserved for women in Parliament and state assemblies but so far matter could not be

resolved because of differences in various political parties. In U.P., however in

Panchayats one-third of seats have been reserved for women, which has been

1 Ninth five-Year Plan, page 313.


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implemented. But it has been learnt that women are members on panchayat only but even

now they continue to be dictated by their husband and very few women take independent

decisions.

The Ninth Plan and Tenth Plan have decided that not less than 30 percent of funds /

benefits flow to women in other development sectors". But data has not been published

about funds allocate for women welfare. It is not possible to say that to what extent they

have benefited to. However, social groups and NGO's told to the researcher that due share

is not being spent on welfare of women.

To help women to take education special efforts are made for girl education. Government

of U.P. made special efforts in this direction. In 2006 Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojana has

been started under which 5.5 lakh intermediate girl student are given funds by U.P.

Government and up to October 2006 Rs. 1100 crores have been distributed2.

There are also facilities for free education for all girls up to B.A. However, due to apathy

of parents even at primary level all the girls of age group of 6-14 years are not sent to

school which is wholly due to thinking of parents toward educating girl child; but

government of U.P. has created adequate facilities for their education.

Special efforts have been made to provide credit to women entrepreneurs not, by state run

institutions but also by banks but so far insignificant number of women have come

forward to take to enterprises.

A number of laws have been passed for empowering women in following areas, the

Violence against women

Gender sensitization

2 Advertisement Issued in November 2006 by Information and Public Relations Departmentof U.P.


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Dowry Prohibition

Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act

Immoral Traffic Prevention Act

Moreover, there are problems of equality to women of certain minority groups specially

Muslim Women who continue to suffer and U.P. government has not done anything to

ensure equality to women in matters of marriages, divorce, freedom of movement

because of special personal laws for them and apathy of state government to intervene.

Documents

Critical Evaluation of Plans of Social Sector