Comparative Study of Literacy Rates among the Idu Mishmi Population in Etalin and Anelih Circles of Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh: A Census-Based Study (2011)

Literacy is a key indicator of educational and social development. It enables people to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and participate in society. Literacy levels may differ from one geographical area to another because of various social, economic, and educational conditions. The present study aims to compare the literacy rates of Etalin and Anelih Circles in Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh. It focuses on three major aspects: the overall literacy rate, the male literacy rate, and the female literacy rate. The study adopts a descriptive-comparative research design and is based on secondary data from the Census of India 2011. The data indicate that Etalin has a higher overall literacy rate (54.48%) than Anelih (40.32%). Similarly, the male literacy rate in Etalin is 57.7%, compared with 44.8% in Anelih, while the female literacy rate is 50.7% in Etalin and 35.8% in Anelih. These results reveal variations in literacy levels between the two circles and highlight the need for greater attention to educational development, particularly female literacy. The study may help in understanding local educational conditions and planning future educational programme.