LITERACY FOR LIBERATION 145 related to fertility. In so far as our population growth goes unchecked, the attempts to improve economic and social conditions will turn futile. Hence the urgent necessity to improve women's literacy and education which will indirectly help to reduce fertility rates, or what is popularly called-the population explosion. [The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance rendered by K Gopinatha Panicker.] 1 Pratima Asthana, Women's Movement in India, Vikas Publishing House, Delhi 1974. 2 Government of India, Ministry of Education, Educational Statistics at a Glance, Studies in Educational Statistics, No 7, New Delhi 1972. 8 Pocket Bookoj Population Statistics, Census Centenary, 1972, Office of the Registrar General, India. 4 A Portrait of Population, Kerala, Census of India 1971, Director of Census Operations, Kerala. 5 Status of Women in India, Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi. • "Literacy and World Population", Population Bulletin, Vol 30, No 2, Population Reference Bureau, Washington D C. 7 Ibid. 9 A Portait of Population, op. cit. 9 The Educated Women in Indian Society Today, YWCA of India, Tata-McGraw Hill Publishing Company, Bombay U71. I ° "Literacy and World Population", op. cit. II Aleyamma George, ^Population Growth, Status and Role of Women in India", Demography India, Vol 4. No 1, 1975. 2 2 The Mysore Population Study, 1961, United Nations, New York. 18 National Sample Survey, 1960-61, Government of India, New Delhi.