WOMEN’S EDUCATION IN TAMIL NADU AFTER INDEPENDENCE: REGIONAL FEATURES AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Keywords:
Tamil Nadu, women’s education, empowerment, literacy, gender equity, Dravidian movementAbstract
This study explores the historical trajectory of women’s education and empowerment in Tamil Nadu from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Drawing on government reports, policy documents, and scholarly analyses, the research highlights the role of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW), the Dravidian movement, and literacy initiatives such as Mahalir Arivoli Iyakkam in promoting women’s social and economic participation. The findings reveal that government-led reforms, including free education schemes, scholarships, and gender-specific quotas, significantly improved literacy rates, especially among rural women. Furthermore, access to technical and higher education expanded, leading to women’s increased representation in fields such as medicine, engineering, and information technology. The study concludes that Tamil Nadu became one of India’s most progressive states in terms of women’s education, setting an important precedent for gender equity and social development in the broader Indian context.
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