`below 500'. Most of the habitations not served at present are,
therefore, in the slab 'below 500'. Though the habitations in the
slabs '1,000 and above' are a small percentage of the habitations not
served at present, they nevertheless account for 19.90 per cent of the
population not served. With the establishment of middle sections in
the habitations with populations of '1,000 or above', therefore, at
least one fifth of the existing backlog of the population not served
could be cleared. At present, 26.33 per cent and 53.78 per cent of
the population not served are in the slabs '500-999' and 'below 500'
respectively. There is considerable variation among the States
regarding the population served by middle sections. Considering only
the population having middle sections in their own habitations, the
highest and the lowest percentages are in Gujarat (63.08) and Uttar
Pradesh (10.23). Among the Union Territories, the highest and the
lowest percentages are 99.75 and 7.42 in Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi
Islands and Himachal Pradesh respectively. As regards the population
served by middle sections, the highest and the lowest percentages are
96.0 in Kerala and 55.17 in Rajasthan. In Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Madhya Pradesh and Orissa the percentages of population served are
below the all-India average. In Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh,
however, the percentages are very near the all-India average. We
shall now consider the position separately in every State and Union
Territory (Table 64).
18. Andhra Pradesh
In this State, 17.20 per cent of the
habitations accounting for 56 per cent of the population are in slabs
with populations of '1,000 or above'. A relatively large percentage
of population in this State is in bigger habitations and to that
extent the problem of providing middle schooling facilities should be
easier. According to the data of the First All-India Educational
Survey, 21,494 habitations, i.e. 42.38 per cent were served by middle
sections on 31 March, 1957. The target under the First Survey was
42,195 habitations, i.e. 83.19 per cent. According to the present
data, 31,184 habitations constituting 57.89 per cent of the total
number of habitations are served by middle sections. In terms of
population, however, 72.34 per cent of the population are served by
middle sections, including 25.68 per cent of the population that have
middlesections in their own habitations.
19. Assam
In this State, the percentage of population living
in smaller habitations is relatively large. Only 7.32 per cent of the
habitations accounting for 30.88 per cent of the rural population are
in slabs of '1,000 and above'. Thus, 69.12 per cent of the population
in the State are in habitations with a population of 'less than 1,000'
each. According to the data of the First Survey, 15,662 habitations
constituting 61.32 per cent of the total number of habitations, were
served by middle sections on 31 March, 1957. The target under the
First Survey was 19,654 habitations, i.e. 76.95 per cent. According
to the persent data, 20,884 habitations which
38 SECOND ALL-INDIA EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
form 66.36 per cent of the rural habitations in the State are served
by middle sections. Thus, the number of habitations served by middle
sections at present is more than what was envisaged under the First
Survey though the percentage is lower at present. This is obviously
because of the increase in the number of habitations in the State
which has risen from 25,542 to 31,471 during the intervening period.
In terms of population, 78.26 per cent are served by middle sections,
including 14.36 per cent that have middle sections in their own
habitations. There are 307 habitations in the State, each with a
population of '1,000 or above', which do not have middle sections even
within a walking distance of three miles.
20. Bihar
In this State 88.39 per cent of the habitations,
accounting for 36.42 per cent of the rural population, are in
population slabs of '1,000 and above'. On 31 March, 1957, 76,637
habitations constituting 69.78 per cent of the rural habitations were
served by middle sections. The target under the First Survey was
1,08,311 habitations i.e. 98.61 per cent of the total. The present
data reveal that 96,490 habitations, constituting 82.84 per cent of
the rural habitations are served by middle sections. There has been a
shortfall in the fulfilment of the target proposed in the First
Survey. In terms of population, however, the position is more
satisfactory since 90.71 per cent of the population are served by
middle sections, including 17.18 per cent that have middle sections in
their own habitations. There are 371 habitations with a population of
'1,000 or above' each which do not have middle sections even within a
walking distance of three miles.
21. Gujarat
About 21 per cent of the habitations, accounting
for 56.45 per cent of the rural population in the State are in slabs
of '1,000 and above'. The data of the First Survey are not available
separately for Gujarat. In the erstwhile State of Bombay, 41.32 per
cent of the habitations were served by middle sections and the target
was 78.34 per cent of the total. The present Survey shows that 84.07
per cent of the habitations in Gujarat are served by middle sections.
It appears that the target in terms of habitations served by middle
sections in Gujarat has been exceeded. In terms of population, 91.90
per cent are served by middle sections, including 63.08 per cent that
have middle sections in their own habitations. The latter figure is
the highest among all the States. All habitations with a population
of '5,000 or above' have middle sections in them. In the population
slab '2,000--4,999', as much as 99.5 per cent of the population are
served by middle sections, including 97.8 per cent of the population
that have middle sections in their own habitations. The corresponding
figures for the slab '1,000-1,999' are 95.7 per cent and 82.2 per cent
respectively. Thus, only a very small proportion of population in the
slabs '1,000 and above' is not served by middle sections in this
State.
22. Jammu & Kashmir
This is a State of smaller habitations and
21.6 per cent of the population are in slabs of '1,000 and above'.
According to the data of the First Survey, only 2,397 habitations,
constituting 22.12 per cent of the total, were served by middle
sections on 31 March, 1957. The target under the First Survey was
4,910 habitations, forming 45.30 per cent of the total. According to
the present data, 8,700 habitations, constituting 69.94 per cent of
the total number of habitations, are served by middle sections. Thus,
the number of habitations served by middle sections at present is far
more than what was envisaged in the First Survey, it being 77.18 per
cent more than the original target. In terms of population, 81.32 per
cent are served by middle sections, including 24.03 per cent that have
middle sections in their own habitations. These percentages compare
favourably with those in many States. Considering the difficulties
involved on account of the relatively small size of habitations and
the very low density of population in the State, the achievement
indicated by the present data is remarkable.
23. Kerala
In this State 56.5 7 per cent of the habitations,
accounting for 85.0 per cent of the population are in slabs of '1,000
and above'. A very large percentage of the population in this State
are, therefore, in bigger habitations. In this State an exception was
made in the First Survey with regard to the criterion of distance for
middle school areas. On account of the conditions obtaining there,
the distance limit had been reduced from the three miles to two miles.
According to these criteria, 9,243 habitations, constituting 86.71 per
cent of the total number of habitations, were served by middle
sections on 31 March, 1957. The target under the First Survey was
10,400 habitations, i.e. 97.57 per cent of the total. According to
the present data, 8,660 habitations are served by middle sections
either in their own habitations or within a walking distance of two
miles. These habitations constitute 85.54 per cent of the total
number of rural habitations at present. In terms of population,
however, 96 per cent of the population are served by middle sections
either in their own habitations or within a walking distance of three
miles. This includes 51.08 per cent that have middle sections in
their own habitations. The former figure is the highest among all the
States. Kerala, therefore, has the largest percentage of population
served by middle sections among all the States. There are, however,
170 habitations with populations of '2,000-4,999' which do not have
middle sections even within a walking distance of two miles.
EDUCATION AT MIDDLE STAGE 39
A similar phenomenon was pointed out in the case of the primary stage
discussed in Chapter VI wherein the reasons for big habitations
remaining without schooling facilities in Kerala were mentioned.
24. Madhya Pradesh
This State has a relatively larger number
of smaller habitations. As much as 80.46 per cent of the habitations,
accounting for 46.9 per cent of the population, have a population of
'below 500' each. According to the First All-India Educational
Survey, 25,398 habitations, i.e. 30.91 per cent of the habitations
were served by middle sections and it was visualized that as a result
of the proposals of the First Survey their number would be raised to
60,767, i.e. 73.95 per cent. The present position is that 48,539
habitations, i.e. 53.12 per cent in the State are served by middle
sections. The achievement has been below the target indicated in the
First Survey. In terms of population, however, 65.38 per cent are
served by middle sections, including 17.79 per cent that have middle
sections in their own habitations. The number of habitations in
population slabs of '1,000 and above' which are not served by middle
sections is relatively small. There are, however, a large number of
habitations in the lower population slabs which do not have middle
sections within a convenient walking distance. Thus, the main problem
in Madhya Pradesh would be planning schooling facilities for smaller
habitations.
25. Madras
Only 11.95 per cent of the habitations,
accounting for 42.3 per cent of the population are in slabs of '1,000
and above'. According to the First Survey, 37,371 habitations, i.e.
72.03 per cent were served by middle sections. The target under the
First Survey in terms of habitations was 48,149, i.e. 92.80 per cent
of the total. According to the present position, 47,053 habitations,
i.e. 90.47 per cent, are served by middle sections. In terms of
population, however, 94.69 per cent are served by middle sections,
including 31.35 per cent that have middle sections in their own
habitations. Of the 99 habitations with a population of '5,000 or
above' each, 88 have middle sections in them while the remaining 11
have middle sections within a walking distance of two miles. In the
next population slab, i.e. '2,000-4999', only 13 habitations out of
1,421 do not have middle sections even within a walking distance of
three miles. Thus, in Madras the larger habitations are, by and
large, served by middle sections.
26. Maharashtra
This State also abounds in smaller
habitations. Only 11.97 per. cent of the habitations, accounting for
46.57 per cent of the population, are in slabs of '1,000 and above'.
According to the First Survey, in the erstwhile Bombay State, 41.32
per cent of the habitations were served by middle sections in them or
near them. It was visualized in the report of the Survey that this
percentage would be raised to 78.34. In Maharashtra, the present
position is that 82.92 per cent habitations are served by middle
sections. As in the case of Gujarat, the target set for the erstwhile
Bombay State under the First Survey has been exceeded in the case of
Maharashtra also. In terms of population, 91.22 per cent of the
population are served by middle sections, including 50.33 per cent
that have middle sections in their own habitations. These percentages
are fairly high compared to those in other States. Out of 242
habitations with a population of '5,000 or above', 240 are served by
middle sections in them while the remaining two are served by middle
sections within a walking distance of two miles. In the next
population slab of '2,000-4,999', 96.01 per cent of the population are
served by middle sections in their own habitations. Only 7 out of
1,872 habitations in this slab are without middle sections even within
a walking distance of three miles. Thus, in Maharashtra also the
larger habitations are generally served by middle sections. It is
only in the case of smaller habitations that the provision of middle
school facilities has to be specially thought of.
27. Mysore
Here, 13.15 per cent of the habitations,
accounting for 46.7 per cent of the population, are in the population
slabs '1,000 and above'. According to the First Survey, 28,539
habitations, i.e. 70.75 per cent were served by middle sections in
1957. It was envisaged that these figures would be raised to 38,883
and 90.24 per cent respectively. The present position is that 34,656
habitations, i.e. 86.41 per cent of the total are served by middle
sections. The target set under the First Survey has not been fully
attained. In terms of population, however, 91.05 per cent are served
by middle sections. Of the 168 habitations with population of '5,000
or above, 166 habitations have middle sections in them while the
remaining two have middle sections within a walking distance of one
mile. In the next population slab of '2,000-4,999', only 15 out of
1,310 habitations are without middle sections even within a walking
distance of three miles. There are, however, 260 habitations in the
population slab '1,000-1,999' which do not have middle sections even
within a walking distance of three miles.
28. Orissa
This is another State with predominantly small
habitations. Only 3.52 per cent of the habitations, accounting for
19.8 per cent of the population, are in slabs of '1,000 and above'.
In the context of its conditions, the problem of universal middle
schooling facilities in Orissa is relatively more difficult.
According to the First Survey, 20,998 habitations, i.e. 40.81 per cent
of the total were served by middle sections in 1957. It was
40 SECOND ALL-INDIA EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
visualized in the Survey that these figures would be raised to 41,382
and 80.43 per cent respectively. The present position in the State is
that 42,407 habitations, i.e. 62.03 per cent of the total are served
by middle sections. Though the number of habitations served by middle
sections has exceeded the target of the First Survey, the percentage
is lower at present. This is partly because the number of rural
habitations has increased from 51,448 to 68,369 during the intervening
period. There are only 13 habitations with a population of '5,000 or
above' each. Of these 13 habitations, 12 have middle sections in them
while the remaining habitation does not have middle section even
within a walking distance of three miles. The number of habitations
in the slab '2,000-4,999' is also relatively small. Of 349
habitations in the slab, 30 do not have middle sections even within a
walking distance of three miles. In Orissa, as in Madhya Pradesh, the
main problem will be the proper grouping of habitations.
29. Punjab
In the erstwhile Punjab State, 19.35 per cent of
the habitations, accounting for 59.3 per cent of the population, are
in the slabs '1,000 and above'. In 1957, 18,638 habitations, i.e.
66.86 per cent of the total were served by middle sections. It was
visualized in the First Survey that these figures would be raised to
27,488 and 98.61 per cent respectively. According to the present
data, 22,030 habitations, i.e. 76.91 per cent of the total are served
by middle sections. Considering the target set in the First Survey,
there has been a shortfall in achievement. In terms of population,
86.00 per cent are served by middle sections, including 28.78 per cent
that have middle sections in their own habitations. Of 215
habitations with a population of '5,000 or above', 200 have middle
sections in them, 13 have middle sections at distances varying between
one and three miles and two habitations do not have middle sections
even within a walking distance of four miles. The percentage of
population in habitations in the slab '2,000-4,999', served by middle
sections within them is also not very high. The corresponding
percentage in the population slab '1,000-1,999' is as low as 18.41 per
cent. There is a need to examine why the target visualized in the
First Survey has not been realized to that extent. There is also a
need to examine individual habitations which can be provided for by
middle sections in them or nearby. 30. Rajasthan In Rajasthan, only
8-03 per cent of the habitations are with a population of '1,000 or
above' and these habitations account for 37.8 per cent of the rural
population in the State. Here, 25.9 per cent of the population are in
the slab '500 to 999' while 36.3 per cent are in habitations with
populations of 'below 500'. In 1957, only 14,330 habitations, i.e.
30.60 per cent of the total were served by middle sections and it was
visualized in the First Survey that these figures would be raised to
44,406 and 94.82 per cent respectively. The present position is that
only 23,870 habitations, i.e. 47.24 per cent of the total in the State
are served by middle sections. There has been a great shortfall in
the achievement in the provision of middle sections in the State.
Hardly 50 per cent of what was visualized in the First Survey has been
achieved. In terms of population, only 55.17 per cent are served by
middle sections, including 19.06 per cent that have middle sections in
their own habitations. The former figure is the lowest among all the
States. The bigger habitations are served by middle sections in a
large measure. The problem is, therefore, mainly that of providing
schooling facilities for the smaller habitations.
31. Uttar Pradesh
Only 4.25 per cent of the habitations,
accounting for 25.2 per cent of the rural population in the State are
in slabs of '1,000 and above'. In 1957, 1,12,761 habitations, i.e.
47.87 percent of the total, were served by middle sections. It was
visualized in the First Survey that these figures would be raised to
2,25,155 and 95.59 per cent respectively. The present position is
that 1,80,389 habitations i.e. 75.11 per cent of the total, are served
by middle sections. In the case of Uttar Pradesh also there has been
a shortfall in achievement in terms of the proposals of the First
Survey. In terms of population, 79.29 per cent are served by middle
sections. These include 10.23 per cent that have middle sections in
their own habitations. Of 156 habitations with a population of '5,000
or above', 128 have middle sections in them, 25 have middle sections
at varying distances up to three miles and three habitations are still
not served by middle sections even within a walking distance of three
miles. In the next population slab of '2,000-4,999', the position is,
however, not very satisfactory. Only 49.61 per cent of the population
in the slab are served by middle sections in them. In this slab, 171
habitations, i.e. 8 per cent of the total, do not have middle sections
even within a walking distance of three miles. The corresponding
percentage figure for the slab '1,000-1,999' is 16. The main bulk of
the habitations not served by middle sections consists of smaller
habitations.
32. West Bengal
In this State, 10.10 per cent of the
habitations, accounting for 38.9 per cent of the total population are
in slabs of '1,000 and above'. The First Educational Survey was not
organized in West Bengal and it is, therefore, not possible to compare
the present achievement with the position obtaining in 1957. Never-
theless, 87.14 per cent of the population in the State at present are
served by middle sections, including 13.68.