THATTA, Nov 7: The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), in coordination with community-based organizations (CBOs), has started work on about 100 literacy resource centres in the district, particularly in the coastal belt, to impart basic education to women.

This was informed by NCHD general-manager Hafeezur Rehman Abbasi while delivering a lecture to activists of CBOs at the commission's Makli office here on Sunday.

Stressing the need for women's education, Mr Abbasi said the NCHD was giving priority to imparting education to rural women.

He said the women's literacy rate in the district was 22.14 per cent. He said in 1998, literacy rate of men in the district was about three times higher as compared to that of women.

The literacy rate in urban areas of the district is 44.92 per cent and in rural areas, it is 18.99 per cent. The literacy rate of men in rural areas is 28.31 percent and 8.38 per cent of women. In urban areas, men's literacy rate is 56.98 per cent and that of women is 33.9 per cent.

Of the total educated people, 35.02 per cent have completed primary education, 12.95 per cent have passed middle and 13.32 have passed matriculation.

After matriculation, the literacy rate falls to 6.14 per cent for intermediate, 3.43 per cent for graduates and 1.62 per cent for postgraduates.

Mr Abbasi said due to limited resources and unfavourable conditions, a majority of woman in rural areas could not get education. He said the NCHD was striving hard to overcome academic problems of the district.

Mr Abbasi appreciated the role of volunteer teachers working with CBOs in motivating women of rural areas to get education. He hoped that the efforts would yield positive results.