CHENNAI: While Tamil Nadu celebrates its status as a national leader in higher education with a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 52.3, a closer look at the latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 reveals a troubling “tribal gap” that threatens the state’s narrative of inclusive growth.
In a state where women enrolment outnumbers men, the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community has emerged as a stark statistical outlier. According to the report, the ST male GER in Tamil Nadu stands at a robust 47.6, but the ST female GER languishes at just 38.2.
This disparity has resulted in a Gender Parity Index (GPI) of 0.80, meaning that for every 100 tribal men in the state’s colleges, there are only 80 tribal women, the lowest in the country.
This trend is particularly baffling when compared to other social groups in the state. In the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, Tamil Nadu has successfully achieved a GPI of 1.04, with female participation (45.2) actually surpassing male participation (43.5).
Furthermore, Tamil Nadu’s tribal gender gap runs contrary to the national trend. At the all-India level, ST women are participating in higher education at higher rates than ST men, reflected in a national ST GPI of 1.08.
“While the state’s overall success is commendable, the 0.80 GPI among the ST students is a red flag. Targeted policy intervention is required to address regional and institutional imbalances,” said the registrar of a state university.
Interestingly, Kerala and Karnataka have more female enrolment in ST category than males. Karnataka ST student GPI stands at 1.01, while that of Kerala is 1.47.
Academicians suggest that Tamil Nadu’s pro-women policies such as Pudhumai Penn, tuition waivers and transport subsidies are not reaching the state’s tribal women population due to demographic problems.
“The data suggest that tribal women are likely facing barriers in pursuing higher education. Due to cultural problems or physical constraints as higher education institutions are located far away from tribal settlements, women ST students are unable to pursue higher education dreams,” said T Dhinakaran, who works with a social organisation working with tribal groups.
Ramu Manivannan, former head of department of politics and public administration, University of Madras, said, “Policymakers must investigate why the momentum that has propelled nearly every other demographic in Tamil Nadu to new heights has stalled for tribal women. A focused strategy is required to bridge the gap.”
