Dimapur, January 3: Nagaland has witnessed admirable and corresponding growths in its literacy rate and in the number of educational institutions during the last fifty years.
The literacy rate in Nagaland state which stood at 17.90% way back in 1961 climbed up to 80.11% in 2011, as per “statistical abstract” and “economic indicators” reports published by the Directorate of Economic & Statistics.
Correspondingly, the number of educational institutions (both private and government) also rose in the last 50 years. A year after declaration of Nagaland statehood in 1963, the number of educational institutions in the state was 763 (650 primary schools, 89 middle schools, 22 high schools and 2 colleges).
During 2007-08, the number of educational institutions stood at 2,600 (1662 primary schools, 465 middle schools, 337 high schools, 69 higher secondary schools, 66 colleges and 1 university), the reports informed. Presently, besides Nagaland University, two other universities – ICFAI University and Global University-have also been set up in Nagaland.
On the other hand, the population growth rate and number of government employees in the state have shown erratic characteristics in the last 50 years. In 1961, the population of Nagaland was 3,69,200 (1,91,027 males and 1,78,173 females). The 2011 Census (Provisional) recorded the state’s population at 19,80,602 (10,25,707 males and 9,54,895 females).
As per 1981 Census, the state’s population which stood at 7,74,930 shot up to 12,09,546 in 1991, an increase of 4,34,616. Again, the 2001 Census recorded the state’s population at 19,90,036, an abnormal increase of 7,80,490 from the preceding census (1991). In the subsequent Census 2011, the population came down to 19,80,602.
According to reports, the total number of government employees in 1964 was 8, 311 (287 Class -I & II, 5395 Class –III and 2629 Class –IV) while the total number of government employees in Nagaland as on March 31, 2009 reported by the various departments came to 87,541 (3561 Class -I, 2400 Class-II, 59044 Class III and 22536 Class –IV employees). This is 4.40% of the total provisional population of the state.
The rate of employment in government departments showed phenomenal increase during 1997-98 under Congress rule headed by Dr SC Jamir as Chief Minister and during 2005-06 under NPF rule led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio, where 6,371 and 4,682 people got employment in various government departments respectively.
Interestingly, a record 5,142 people also got government jobs during 1975-76, when the state was under President's Rule (20th March 1975 to 25th November 1977).
