There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. The most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.

India: Definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females.

India - Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61% male: 73.4% female: 47.8% (2001 census)

UNICEF - Awaaz Do - Speak up for the right to education for every child in India

8 million children are not in school. Choose to speak up for their right. It's time you raised your voice too. Let's together show these children the way to school.



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Recent global estimate is that 115 million children are involved in hazardous work. This is work that by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm children's health, safety or morals. Children working in many different industries and occupations can be exposed to such risks and the problem is global, affecting industrialised as well as developing countries. Hazardous work is among the worst forms of child labour which the international community has targeted for elimination by 2016.