JAC Class 8 SST Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation

JAC Board Class 8th Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation

→ Religious solace, armed struggle, self improvement and education, economic uplift – there appears to be no one way of doing things. Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims, women and other marginal groups argue that simply by being citizens of a democratic country, they possess equal rights that must be respected.

→ Invoking Fundamental Rights:

The marginalised have drawn on the rights in two ways: first, by insisting on their Fundamental Rights, they have forced the government to recognise the injustice done to them. Second, they have insisted that the government enforce these laws.
In some instances, the struggles of the marginalised have influenced the government to frame new laws in keeping with the spirit of the Fundamental Rights.
Article 17 of the Constitution states that untouchability has been abolished, this means that no one can henceforth prevent Dalits from educating themselves, entering temples, using public facilities, etc.
Untouchability is a punishable crime now.
Article 15 of the Constitution notes that no citizen of India shall be discriminated
against on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. This has been used by Dalits to seek equality where it has been denied to them.
Dalits can ‘invoke’ or ‘draw on’ a Fundamental Right (or Rights) in situations where they feel that they have been treated badly by some individual or community or even by the government.
By granting different forms of cultural rights, the Constitution tries to ensure cultural justice to such groups.
The Constitution does this so that the culture of these groups is not dominated nor wiped out by the culture of the majority community.

→ Laws for the Marginalised:

There are specific laws and policies for the marginalised in our country.
There are policies or schemes that emerge through other means like setting up a committee or by undertaking a survey, etc.

→ Promoting Social Justice:

As part of their effort to implement the Constitution, both state and central governments create specific schemes for implementation in tribal areas or in areas that have a high Dalit population.
One such law/policy is the reservation policy that today is both significant and highly contentious.
The laws which reserve seats in education and government employment for Dalits and Adivasis are based on an important argument.
Governments across India have their own list of Scheduled Castes (or Dalits), Scheduled Tribes and backward and most backward castes. The central government too has its list.
Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in government are expected to furnish proof of their caste or tribe status, in the form of caste and tribe certificates.

→ Protecting the Rights of Dalits and Adivasis
In addition to policies our country also has specific law’s that guard against the discrimination and exploitation of marginalised communities.

→ The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

In order to indicate to the government that untouchability was still being practised and in the most hideous manner, Dalit groups demanded new laws that would list the various sorts of violence against dalits and prescribe stringent punishment for those who indulge in them.
The Act contains a very long list of crimes some of which are too horrible even to contemplate.
The Act does not only describe terrible crimes but also lets people know what dreadful deeds human beings are capable of.
The Act distinguishes several levels of crimes. Firstly, it lists modes of humiliation that are both physically horrific and morally reprehensible and seeks to punish.
Secondly, it lists actions that dispossess Dalits and Adivasis of their meagre resources or which force them into performing slave labour.
At another level, the Act recognises that crimes against Dalit and tribal women are of a specific kind and, therefore, seeks to penalise anyone who assaults or uses force on any woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe with intent to dishonour her.

→ Adivasi Demands and the 1989 Act:

The 1989 Act is important for another reason – Adivasi activists refer to it to defend their right to occupy land that was traditionally theirs.
Activists have asked that those who have forcibly encroached upon tribal lands should be punished under this law.
C.K. Janu, an Adivasi activist, has also pointed out that one of the violators of Constitutional rights guaranteed to tribal people are governments in the various states of India.
She has also noted that in cases where tribals have already been evicted and cannot go back to their lands, they must be compensated.

→ Conclusion:

The existence of a right or a law or even a policy on paper does not mean that it exists in reality.
People have had to constantly work on or make efforts to translate these into principles that guide the actions of their fellow citizens or even their leaders.

JAC Class 8 Social Science Notes

JAC Board Class 8th Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation

JAC Class 8th Civics Confronting Marginalisation InText Questions and Answers

Page 97

Question 1.
State one reason why you think reservations play an important role in providing social justice to Dalits and Adivasis?
Answer:
Reservations plays an important role in providing social justice to Dalits and Adivasis because it creates special opportunities for them to come up in the same level as of the mainstream of the soeicty

Question 2.
Complete the table.

List of schemes	What is this scheme about?	How do you think it will help promote social justice?
Scholarships for students	It’s about the financial support to weaker and underprivileged sections of the society such as SCs and STs.	It will help them to get education and will bring them equal to others.
Special police stations	Police stations specially for SCs and STs.	The cases will be solved faster.
Special schemes for girls in government schools	Free education and scholarships for girls.	It will help to enroll more girls students for education.

Page 99

Question 3.
In your opinion does the force put on Rathnam to perform this ritual violate his Fundamental Rights?
Answer:
Yes, it violates Rathnam’s Fundamental Rights.

Question 4.
Why do you think the Dalit families were afraid of angering the powerful castes?
Answer:
The Dalit families were afraid of angering the powerful castes because they would be perished and won’t get work as well.

Page 100

Question 5.
Can you list two different provisions in the 1989 Act?
Answer:
Two different provisions in the 1989 Act are as follows:

To occupy Dalit and Adivasis’s land forcefully and wrongfully.
No forced displacement.

Question 6.
Look up the glossary and write in your own words what you understand by the term ‘morally reprehensible’.
Answer:
Any act which violates the norms and rules of dignity and decency and which goes against the values that society has accepted is termed as ‘morally reprehensible’.

Page 101

Question 7.
What do you understand by manual scavenging?
Answer:
Manual scavenging means the practice of removing human and animal waste or excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carry these waste on their head to the disposal grounds.

Page 101

Question 8.
Re-read the list of Fundamental Rights provided on page 14 and list two rights that this practice violates?
Answer:
Two Rights that the practice of manual scavenging violates are as follows:

Right to Freedom
Right to Equality.

Question 9.
Why did the Safai Karamchari Andolan tile a PIL in 2003’? What did they complain about in their petition?
Answer:
The Safai Karamchari Andolan file a PI L in 2003 for the purpose to get manual scavenging banned. In their petition, they complained that manual scavenging still existed and it is happening in government undertakings as well such as railways. They want enforcement of their Fundamental Rights.

Question 10.
What did the Supreme Court do on hearing their case in 2005?
Answer:
The Supreme Court directed every department of the union government and state governments to verify the facts within 6 months after hearing the case in 2005. If it was found to exist, then the government department has to actively take up a time bound programme for their rehabilitation.

JAC Class 8th Civics Confronting Marginalisation Textbook Questions and Answers

Question 1.
List two Fundamental Rights in the Constitution that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they be treated with dignity and as equals. Re-read the Fundamental Rights listed on page 14 to help you answer this question.
Answer:
The fundamental rights in the Constitution that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they be treated with dignity and as equals are as follows:

Right to Equality:
All persons are equal before the law. No one can be discriminated on the basis of religion, race, caste, gender or place of birth.
Right against Exploitation:
It prohibits all forms of forced labour, child labour and trafficking of human beings.

Question 2.
Re-read the story on Rathnam as well as the provisions of the 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Now list one reason why you think he used this law to file a complaint.
Answer:
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 seeks to punish those who humiliate or ill-treat the member of dalit or tribal groups. To seek protection against the domination and violence of the powerful castes in the village, Rathnam sought the support of law, filing his complaint under the above Act.

Question 3.
Why do Adivasi activists, including C.K. Janu, believe that Adivasis can also use this 1989 Act to fight against dispossession? Is there anything specific in the provisions of the Act that allows her to believe this?
Answer:
The Adivasi activists, including C.K. Janu, believe that Adivasis can use the 1989 Act to fight against dispossession because this Act guarantees the tribals not to be dispossessed from their land and resources forcibly. This Act confirms that the land owned by any tribal people cannot be sold to or bought by non-tribal people. If this happens, the Constitution guarantees the right of the tribal people to repossess their land.

Question 4.
The poems and the song in this Unit allow you to see the range of ways in which individuals and communities express their opinions, their anger and their sorrow. In class, do the following two exercises:
(a) Bring to class a poem that discusses a social issue. Share this with your classmates. Work in small groups with two or more poems to discuss their meaning as well as what the poet is trying to communicate.
(b) Identify a marginalised community in your locality. Write a poem, or song, or draw a poster, etc., to express your feelings as a member of this community.
Answer:
(a) It’s a classroom activity.
(b) Students need to do it on their own.

JAC Class 8th Civics Confronting Marginalisation Important Questions and Answers

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Marginalised groups insist the government to enforce which of the following thing/s, so they can enjoy rights equally?
(a) Laws
(b) Religion
(c) Compulsory education
(d) All of these
Answer:
(a) Laws

Question 2.
………. of the Indian Constitution states that untouchability has been abolished.
(a) Article 11
(b) Article 13
(c) Article 21
(d) Article 17
Answer:
(d) Article 17

Question 3.
Article 17 of the Constitution states that untouchability has been abolished. It means that:
(a) It is wrong to practise untouchability and that this practice will not be tolerated by a democratic government.
(b) No one can henceforth prevent Dalits from educating themselves, entering temples, using public facilities etc.
(c) Untouchability is a punishable crime now.
(d) Both b and c.
Answer:
(b) No one can henceforth prevent Dalits from educating themselves, entering temples, using public facilities etc.

Question 4.
One of the schemes that government implementation in tribal areas or in areas that have a high Dalit population is:
(a) Free or subsidised hostels for students of Dalit and Adivasi communities.
(b) Free or subsidised car for students of Dalit and Adivasi communities.
(c) Free or subsidised air conditioner for students of Dalit and Adivasi communities.
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Free or subsidised hostels for students of Dalit and Adivasi communities.

Question 5.
Which of the following way/s the reservation policy work?
(a) Government across the country have their own list of SCs or Dalits, STs and backward and most backward castes.
(b) For admission to colleges, especially to institutes of professional education, such as medical colleges, governments define a set of ‘cut-off’ marks.
(c) Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in government are expected to furnish proof of their caste or tribe status in the form of caste and tribe certificates.
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these

Question 6.
In addition to policies our country also has specific laws that guard against the discrimination and exploitation of marginalised communities. The Act is
(a) The Adivasi and Dalits Act 1988
(b) The Adivasi and the Scheduled Castes Act 1990
(c) The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
(d) None of these
Answer:
(c) The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Question 7.
The names of the manual scavengers in different parts of India is/are
(a) Bhangis in Gujarat
(b) Sikkaliars in Tamil Nadu
(c) Pakhis in Andhra Pradesh
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these

Question 8.
The Central Government passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Act in the year
(a) 2005
(b) 2008
(c) 2009
(d) 2010
Answer:
(c) 2009

Question 9.
Dalit means:
(a) To highlight the discrimination of wealth.
(b) Too highlight the discrimination of caste.
(c) To highlight the discrimination of gender.
(d) None of these
Answer:
(b) Too highlight the discrimination of caste.

Question 10.
The term ‘Assertive’ means:
(a) Those who never express themselves.
(b) Those who oppose every concept.
(c) Those who express themselves strongly.
(d) Both b and c
Answer:
(a) Those who never express themselves.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
The force is put on Ratham to perform the ritual of washing the feet of the priest and then bathing in that water’. Which fundamental right is being violated in the case?
Answer:
The Fundamental Right which is being violated is Right to Freedom.

Question 2.
What do you mean by the ‘Reservation Policy’?
Answer:
Reservation Policy is the policy which reserve seats in education and government employment for Dalits and Adivasis.

Question 3.
What did the marginal groups rely on to protect themselves from continued exploitation by other groups?
Answer:
Marginal groups relied on Constitution to protect themselves from continued exploitation by other groups.

Question 4.
How have the marginalised communities drawn on the fundamental rights?
Answer:
The marginalised communities have drawn on these rights in two ways: First, by insisting on their Fundamental Rights, they have forced the government to recognise the injustice done to them. Second, they have insisted that the government enforce these laws.

Question 5.
To which caste did the Bhakti poet Chokhamela from fourteenth century Maharashtra belong?
Answer:
The Bhakti poet Chokhamela from fourteenth century Maharashtra belonged to the Mahar caste, which was at that time considered untouchable.

Question 6.
W ho is questioning the idea of purity and arguing that since every human is born in the same manner, there is nothing that makes one body less or more pure than the other?
Answer:
Soyrabai, the wife of Bhakti poet, Chokhamela is questioning the idea of purity and arguing that since every human is bom in the same manner, there is nothing that makes one body less or more pure than the other.

Question 7.
Who was Kabir?
Answer:
Kabir was a fifteenth century poet and weaver who also belonged to the Bhakti tradition.

Question 8.
How many people are working as manual scavengers in government and private sectors?
Answer:
There are one lakh persons from Dalit communities who continue to be employed in this job in the country and who work in 26 lakh private and community dry latrines managed by municipalities.

Question 9.
In the year 1993, which Act was passed?
Answer:
In the year 1993, the government passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act.

Question 10.
What does the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act means?
Answer:
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act meant to undo the historical injustices meted out to forest dwelling populations in not recognising their rights to land and resources.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
In what manner government tried to eradicate manual scavenging?
Answer:
In 1993, the government passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act. This law prohibits the employment of manual scavengers as well as the construction of dry latrines.

Question 2.
Discuss in brief the 1989 Act made in context to Adivasi demands.
Answer:
The 1989 Act confirms what has already been promised to tribal people in the Constitution, that land belonging to tribal people cannot be sold to or bought by non-tribal people. In cases where this has happened, the Constitution guarantees the right of tribal people to re-possess their land.

Question 3.
What is manual scavenging? How is it harmful for people who practice it?
Answer:
Manual scavenging refers to the practice of removing human and animal waste/ excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carrying it on the head to disposal grounds some distance away. Manual scavengers are exposed to subhuman conditions of work and face serious health problems. They are constantly exposed to infections that affect their eyes, skin, respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems.

Question 4.
Explain in brief the reservation policy.
Answer:
The laws which reserve seats in education and government employment for Dalits and Adivasis are based on an important argument that in a society like ours, where for centuries sections of the population have been denied opportunities to learn and to work in order to develop new skills or vocations, a democratic government needs to step in and assist these sections.

Question 5.
Express the ideas of C.K. Janu, an Adivasi activist on violation of constitutional rights by the government of various Indian states.
Answer:
C.K. Janu, an Adivasi activist has pointed out that one of the violators of Constitutional rights guaranteed to tribal people are governments in the various states of India. It is they who allow non- tribal encroachers in the form of timber merchants, paper mills, etc., to exploit tribal land and to forcibly evict tribal people from their traditional forests in the process of declaring forests as reserved or as sanctuaries. She has also said that in cases where tribals and adivasis have already been evicted and cannot go back to their lands, they must be compensated.

Question 6.
In which way the reservation policy work?
Answer:
Governments across India have their own list of Scheduled Castes or Dalits, Scheduled Tribes and backward and most backward castes. The central government too has its list. Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in government are expected to furnish proof of their caste or tribe status, in the form of caste and tribe certificates. If a particular Dalit caste or a certain tribe is on the government list, then a candidate from that caste or tribe can avail of the benefit of reservation.

Question 7.
Mention the important features of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Answer:
The important features of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 are as follows:

It meant to undo the historical injustices meted out to forest dwelling populations in not recognising their rights to land and resources.
This Act recognises their right to homestead cultivable and grazing land and to non-timber forest produce.
The Act also points out that the rights of forest dwellers includes conservation of forests and bio-diversity.

Question 8.
Dalits asserted themselves. How?
Answer:
Dalits asserted themselves in the following ways:

During 1970s and 1980s, in parts of southern India, a number of assertive Dalit groups came into being and asserted their rights. They refused to perform their so-called caste duties and insisted on being treated equally.
These groups demanded new laws that would list the various sorts of violence against dalits and prescribe stringent punishment for those who indulge in them.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Adivasi people successfully organised themselves and demanded equal rights and for their land and resources to be returned to them.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Discuss few crimes listed in Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989.
Answer:
Few crimes which are listed in Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 are as follows:
(i) Firstly, it lists modes of humiliation that are both physically horrific and morally reprehensible and seeks to punish those who:

force a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance.
forcibly removes clothes from the person of a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or parades him or her naked or with painted face or body or commits any similar act which is derogatory to human dignity.

(ii) Secondly, it lists actions that dispossess Dalits and Adivasis of their meagre resources or which force them into performing slave labour. Thus, the Act sets out to punish anyone who wrongfully occupies or cultivates any land owned by, or allotted to, a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or get the land allotted to him transferred.

(iii) At another level, the Act recognises that crimes against Dalit and tribal women are of a specific kind and, therefore, seeks to penalise anyone who assaults or uses force on an woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe with intent to dishonour her.

JAC Board Class 8th Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation

JAC Class 8 Social Science Notes

JAC Board Class 8th Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 8 Confronting Marginalisation

JAC Class 8 Social Science Solutions