Scrutinizing the Inclusiveness of Education at the Grass-Root Level in Madhya Pradesh Region of India

The primary motivation of this study is to explore the field of elementary education in the Madhya Pradesh region of India from gender perspective. With only 3 years in hand to achieve the goal of universal education for all as per Dakar declaration, it assesses the extent to which the basic education has been equitable and inclusive. It uses 15 indicators of the elementary education as input for the Principle Component Analysis to identify the factors that govern the primary school enrolment in case of girl students. The study resulted in four factors that determine the primary enrolment. The study exposes the utter failure of the elementary education system in general and the economic reforms in particular to make basic education equitable and universal. It has important policy implications. The study also contributes to the existing scanty literature on the gender dimensions of elementary education in India.