International Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research and Developmental Studies
E-ISSN: 2469-7811 • Impact Factor - 9.587

RIGHT TO EDUCATION 2009 AND ITS ROLE IN PROMOTING INCLUSIVE GROWTH: ACCESS, QUALITY, AND EQUITY IN HARYANA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND CHILD WELFARE

Abstract

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE) is a milestone in the education policy system of India, and it is set in a way to make elementary education universal and to provide free and mandatory elementary education to children between the age of 6 and 14 years. This paper studies how the RTE Act fosters inclusive growth in Haryana particularly in women empowerment and child welfare. The study assesses the aspects of access, equity, and quality of education using mixed-method design, primary data (300 respondents, including teachers, parents, and administrators in five districts) and secondary data (Census, UDISE, and ASER reports). The results show that RTE has played a positive role in enrolment, particularly amongst the girls and the disadvantaged groups and has narrowed the gender disparity in literacy rates. Attendance and retention have also been enhanced by welfare schemes (Mid-Day Meal). Nevertheless, there are still serious problems: not all parents are aware of the existence of RTE provisions, the shortage of teachers and insufficient infrastructure are still observed, and the rates of dropout still impact girls living in rural schools. In addition, poor implementation of equity in the private schools and low pre-primary enrolment point to failure in the system. The paper concludes that although RTE has enhanced a solid base towards inclusive education in Haryana, its potential is yet to be fully achieved by enhanced awareness, teacher capacity building, investment in infrastructures and efficient monitoring. By reinforcing these, education will be an empowerment of women, childcare, and a sustainable inclusive development in the state.

Keywords: Right to Education Act, Inclusive Growth, Haryana, Women Empowerment, Child Welfare, Educational Equity

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