Indian society has always given high importance to the education. Education enlightens the soul and helps an individual to understand the world. Ok! that's fine!. But let us take a look into the facts (Source: Smile foundation India).
• Less than half of India's children between the age 6 and 14 go to school.
• A little over one-third of all children who enroll in grade one reach grade eight.
• At least 35 million children aged 6 - 14 years do not attend school.
• 53% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate.
• In India, only 53% of habitation has a primary school.
• In India, only 20% of habitation has a secondary school.
• On an average an upper primary school is 3 km away in 22% of areas under habitations.
• In nearly 60% of schools, there are less than two teachers to teach Classes I to V.
• On an average, there are less than three teachers per primary school. They have to manage classes from I to V every day.
• Dropout rates increase alarmingly in class III to V, its 50% for boys, 58% for girls.
• 1 in 40, primary school in India is conducted in open spaces or tents.
• More than 50 per cent of girls fail to enroll in school; those that do are likely to drop out by the age of 12.
• 50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school
Poverty:
Poverty is an outcome of illiteracy. The only permanent solution to poverty is education.
Each one teach ten:
"Each one teach one" has been an old credo. But the need of the hour is "Each one teach ten".
Privatization of govt. schools:
Most of the indian primary schools lack quality staff, infrastructure and basic facilities. privatization would make the management more efficient and hence proper utilization of resources.
Corporate responsibility:
Many top Indian companies understand their social responsibility and are providing helping hands in this field. but as any company derives its profit from the society, every company irrespective of its size and profit margin must contribute for the education of poor.
Efforts at individual level:
We as an individual can really make a difference. All that is needed is:
• Identification of the areas around you.
• Gathering a group of educated enthusiasts.
• If possible contact some NGO.
• Cause awareness among people around you.
• Little monetary help.
*One such effort with which I was associated during my college days was Literacy Mission at NIT Hamirpur.
All it needs is time and dedication and this small efforts of yours can really make a difference.
So let us come forward and dream of a different tomorrow. Dream of a better India, a better world.
*Image source: CSmonitor
invested gainfully. Before making a long journey, the 
magnificent building is going to be my department for the next four years and somewhere I knew that I've made a wise decision.
