NEW DELHI: As per a National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report, of the 66 per cent literate people in the country, the literacy rate is highest among the general (Others) category.

They are followed by the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) with a gap of 13 percentage points.

According to the NSSO report on `Employment and unemployment situation among social groups in India, 2004-05,' the literacy rate is 78 per cent among the Others category, 65 per cent among OBCs and 52 per cent among the Scheduled Castes (SCs).

Attendance rates

In rural areas, the current attendance rate in educational institutions is much higher among children from households coming under the Others category.

However, in urban India, the rate is much higher among the Scheduled Tribes (STs) than the SCs.

About 26 per cent of households in rural areas and 8 per cent in urban areas have no literate member of age 15 years and above.

The proportion of households without a literate adult (15 years and above) member or without a literate female adult member is much higher among households coming under the SC and ST categories than among the OBCs and Others category in both rural and urban India, the report suggests.

This is the second report in a series of seven, to be brought out on the basis of the 61st survey conducted by the NSSO.

Survey details

In this survey, information on employment and unemployment of people belonging to four social groups — SCs, STs, OBCs and Others — was collected.

The report points out that nine per cent of the households in the country belong to the STs, 20 per cent to the SCs and 40 per cent to the OBCs.

The proportions of households belonging to the ST, SC and OBC groups are 11 per cent, 22 per cent and 42 per cent respectively in rural areas and 3 per cent, 15 per cent and 36 per cent respectively in urban areas.

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