Poor rural labourers like Thulasi often do not have access to good medical facilities, good schools, and other resources. You have read about inequality in the first unit of this text. The difference between her and Ramalingam is one of inequality. Do you think this is a fair situation? What do you think can be done? Discuss in class.
All are equal in the eyes of constitution. It is the duty of the government to provide basic facilities to the villagers. The government should make sure that there is no lack of education and there should be educated teachers because in some cases teachers are not interested in teaching students and do not pay attention on students. The rich people send their children to school because they have enough money whereas poor people cannot because they are poor; and secondly if they send them to school then, the rich people’s kids discriminate and criticize or bully them on the basis of their poorty.
Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table:
Imagine you are a member of a fishing family and you are discussing whether to take a loan from the bank for an engine. What would you say?
What do you think the government can do to help farmers like Sekar when they get into debt? Discuss.
You have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. List five of these.
List the different types of people you read about in Kalpattu who depend on farming. Who is the poorest among them and why?
How would Maya's life be different in South Africa today?
What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem?
Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
What is the work of the police?
Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes.
a. Two surgeons were sitting down to lunch when one of them made a call on the mobile phone |
1. suffers from chronic asthma. |
b. The boy who won the drawing competition went to the dias |
2. to become an astronaut which she did. |
c. One of the fastest athletes in the world |
3. to speak with her daughter who had just returned from school. |
d. She was not that well-off but had a dream |
4. on a wheelchair to collect his prize. |
Look at the statements in the column on the left. Can you identify which level they belong to? Place tick marks against the level you consider most appropriate.
Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala's house?
Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk.
Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accommodation and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need.
Source: Aman Sethi, Hindu On-line
What are the various ways in which people participate in the process of government?
What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?
In your neighbourhood are there women who own property? How did they acquire it?
What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?
Who is in charge of all the police stations in a district? Find out.
Sometimes people make prejudiced comments in our presence. We are often not in a position to do anything about this because it is difficult to say something right then and there. Divide the class into groups and each group discuss what they could do in one of the following situations:
a. A friend begins to tease a classmate because he is poor.
b. You are watching TV with your family and one of them makes a prejudicial comment about a particular religious community.
c. Children in your class refuse to share their food with a particular person because they think she is dirty.
d. Someone tells you a joke that makes fun of a community because of their accent.
e. Some boys make remarks about girls not being able to play games as well as them. Discuss in class what the different groups have suggested for the above situations, and also talk about the problems that can come up when raising the issue.
Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?
Look at the image below.
The Government of India launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2 October 2014 to promote cleanliness in both rural and urban areas all over the nation. Under the “Swachh Bharat, Swachh Vidyalaya” campaign, many activities are also being carried out in schools to generate awareness on sanitation and hygiene amongst students. Observe the ways in which “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” is being implemented by municipality / panchayat in your locality. Prepare a poster and display it in your school.
Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India's essential unity.
How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least five different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house.
Why do you think we need the government to find solutions to many disputes or conflicts?