In rural education, the gender gap and disparity continue despite many recent efforts. The main reasons for this malady are the weak school and community linkages and lack of role performance of schools as societal institutions. The gender gap continues to increase as one proceeds from primary to doctoral level. In rural India a gender gap of 25% continues to exist at the school level and 80% at the doctoral level. There are many community-based reasons for this malady. Schools need to link themselves meaningfully to the community to bring about a social transformation in favor of gender equity.