September 25, 2005	Sunday	Sha'aban 20, 1426

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THATTA, Sept 24: The National Commission for Human Development in coordination with community-based organizations has initiated a programme to set up about 200 literacy centres for adult women in rural areas of the district.

This was stated by Mehfooz Bhatti, district general manager of the NCHD while giving a lecture to activists of CBOs at the Makli office on Friday.

He said the ratio of educated women in urban and rural areas of the district was 22.14 per cent and concentration of the NCHD was to preferably impart primary education to the rural women.

Mehfooz Ahmed said the male literacy rate of the district was about three times higher as compared to women.

“There is a sharp difference in the literacy ratio and the ratio in urban areas is much higher at 44.92 per cent as compared to only 18.99 per cent in rural areas” he said.

The male literacy ratio was more than three times higher at 28.31 per cent in rural areas as compared to female literacy ratio at only 8.38 per cent.

Of total educated people 35.02 per cent have passed primary, 12.92 per cent middle and 13.32 per cent matriculation.

After matriculation, the percentage falls to 6.14 per cent (intermediate), 3.43 per cent (graduates) and 1.62 per cent (postgraduates).

He said having very nominal access to the urban life the rural women have virtually been cut off from the academic world.

“Right from dawn to dusk rural women remain indulged in virtual physical labour including cattle-tending, de-weeding, washing dishes and family clothes and collecting fire wood, fetch water from nearby or far-off wells and ditches”.

Besides, they are victim of superstitious traditions like karo-kari.

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