Abstract

Some minority-concentrated districts in India lack basic amenities and lag behind the national average on several socio-economic indicators. Despite India having been an independent nation for the past 73 years, economic and social development in certain communities is dismal due to educational backwardness, which leads to social reproduction, whereby the economic, cultural, human, and social capital remains unchanged from generation to generation. Mewat district in Haryana is the lowest ranked district in the country in terms of many socio-economic parameters. The literacy rate in the district is 54% and the female literacy rate is only 36%, which is dismal compared to the national averages of 74% and 65%, respectively, as per data from the 2011 census. A synthesis of the published literature on educational backwardness and social reproduction in Mewat forms the theoretical framework of this study. The findings from quantitative research indicate that the district has not improved with respect to the educational and developmental status of the community. This paper makes recommendations based on the findings to address the prevalent issues.