These DAV Class 8 SST Notes and DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 21 Notes – Social Justice and the Marginalised hold significant importance as study material for students.
Social Justice and the Marginalised Class 8 DAV Notes
→ India opted for a sovereign and secular democracy after attaining independence.
→ The Indian Constitution gave equal rights to all citizens.
→ The policies of the government, laws and other administrative measures aim to uplift the condition of the marginalised sections of society to achieve the ideal of social justice.
→ An overwhelming majority of people in India are still backward- socially, economically, educationally and politically. These victims of backwardness comprise the present scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. They are marginalised and need our attention.
→ The castes of Dalits and Adivasis (tribals) which are listed in the Constitution of India are known as Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) respectively.
→ Economically and socially disadvantaged communities of India, called Dalits, Harijans or so-called untouchables are known as Scheduled Castes.
→ They were discriminated and exploited by the so-called higher castes on one hand and by the colonial powers on the other due to their monopoly over the resources.
→ Adivasis are losing their identity, traditional occupations and way of life in the name of development. The end of their traditional lifestyle and resulted in their marginalisation and exploitation. It forces them to live in abject poverty.
→ Even in the post-independence era, Adivasi groups faced discrimination at the hands of the government, the industrialists and many other powerful forces.
→ The government has launched many schemes for their welfare but they are disenchanted with them as the schemes have provided more money-making opportunities to the rich and higher castes and the Adivasis have mostly been given the option of manual labour only.
→ Asa result of the exploitation, many a times, the resentment has surfaced in the form of protests or revolts against higher castes, landlords and the colonial power.
→ The Government of India has taken concrete steps to provide social justice to all and to end inequalities in our society. The reservation policy is one such measure.
→ Under the reservation policy, seats are reserved for SC/ST/OBCs in the legislatures, government services, schools, colleges, etc.
→ Along with safeguarding the interests of SCs/STs/OBCs, the Constitution of India also safeguards the interest of the Minorities like Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Anglo- Indians, etc.
→ The minorities have to be provided their rightful place. They have to be protected from being dominated as well as discriminated.
→ Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched several schemes for the welfare of the minorities and it safeguards their rights.
→ India is a secular country. The provisions in the Constitution and laws of the government safeguard the interest of all by providing equal opportunities to all in all the fields.
→ It is the prime duty of a democratic government to ensure the progress of all sections of society.
→ The progress made in the last decades for the upliftmentof the downtrodden and women, socially, economically and educationally backward, is impressive.
→ The legislature and judiciary should work in cooperation for the benefit of the entire population rather than for a particular group.
→ Scheduled Castes: The castes which are called Dalits, Harijans or so-called untouchables in the society.
→ Scheduled Tribes: They live in tribal areas, having their own social customs and religious practices.
→ Minorities: They are those who have less number of people of their own sect or religion in a particular religion or religions.
→ OBCs: The weaker sections of the society other than SC/ST.
→ Mainstream: People or communities that are considered to be at the centre of a society.
→ Bondage: The state of being a slave or owned by someone.
→ Deprivation: Denial of something considered to be a necessity.
→ Egalitarian: Based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
→ Indebtedness: The condition of owing money due to debts/loans.
→ Madarsa: A traditional Islamic educational institution.
→ Underprivileged: Those who do not enjoy the same standard of living or rights as the majority of people in the society.
→ Adivasis: Natives of the land (Adi = origin, Vasi = dweller).