Spatial dimensions of literacy and index of development in Karnataka

Vital statistics of a region are crucial in understanding development. Over the years, social scientists have used data on literacy as one of the criteria to understand levels of development. Significance lies in the growing levels of literacy among different groups of society. This paper is a brief appraisal of the Index of Deprivation (IOD) and Crude Literacy Development Index (CLDI) in Karnataka State for the two census years 1991 and 2001. It attempts to show the relative status of talukwise development through literacy. Out of 175 taluks in Karnataka, Mangalore in Dakshina Kannada District has the highest CLDI (0.873) both in 1991 and 2001. Followed by Karwar, Madikeri, Sirsi, Udupi, Sulya, Sringeri, Bantwal, and Bangalore-South taluks. Yadgir taluk of Gulbarga District has the highest IOD (0.374), followed by Shahapur, Devadurga, Manvi, Shorapur, Siruguppa, Jevargi and Sedam taluks in the district of Gulbarga, Raichur and Bellary respectively.