DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer – Safeguarding the Marginalised

These DAV SST Book Class 8 Solutions Pdf and DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer – Social Justice and the Marginalised are thoughtfully prepared by experienced teachers.

DAV Class 8 SST Ch 22 Question Answer – Safeguarding the Marginalised

DAV Class 8 SST Ch 22 Solutions – Safeguarding the Marginalised

Something to Know

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

Question 1.
Manual Scavenging has been declared illegal as its violates-
(a) Right of Equality
(b) Right to Freedom of Movement
(c) Right against Exploitation
(d) Right to Freedom of Speech
Answer:
(c) Right against Exploitation

Question 2.
When was ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ launched?
(a) November 26, 2014
(b) August 15, 2014
(c) November 14, 2014
(d) October 2, 2014
Answer:
(d) October 2, 2014

Question 3.
Which out of the following is true about the Directive Principles of State Policy?
(a) They are not enforceable by law.
(b) They can be enforced by the Supreme Court.
(c) High Court is the protector of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
(d) The President has the power to enforce the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Answer:
(a) They are not enforceable by law.

Question 4.
Which one of the following Fundamental Rights has special provisions for the minorities?
(a) Right to Equality
(b) Culture and Educational Flights
(c) Right against Exploitation
(d) Plight to Freedom
Answer:
(b) Culture and Educational Flights

Question 5.
Identify the scheme under which a person can open a bank account without depositing any money.
(a) PMAY
(b) PMJDY
(c) SSY
(d) PMSBY
Answer:
(b) PMJDY

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

B. Fill in the blanks.

1. ________ is an inhuman product of the caste system.
Answer:
Untouchability

2. ________ is a welfare housing scheme launched by the Central Government.
Answer:
PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana)

3. The important challenges we face today are the ________ of our growth processes and the ________ that remain in our social institutions.
Answer:
unevenness; inequalities

4. ________ is an initiative to provide insurance benefits to rural population.
Answer:
PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana)

5. Manual scavenging violates the Fundamental Right ________ .
Answer:
against exploitation and discrimination

C. Write True and False for the following statements.

1. The State cannot make special provisions for the backward classes.
Answer:
False

2. The practice of untouchability has been abolished under the Plight to Equality.
Answer:
True

3. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana provides financial empowerment to the girl child.
Answer:
True

4. Minorities in India are not protected by the Constitution.
Answer:
True

5. The Directive Principles of State Policy promote welfare of the people.
Answer:
False

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

D. Answer the following questions in brief.

Question 1.
What is meant by marginalisation? Who are the marginalised groups in India?
Answer:
Marginalisation means the social process of discriminating and isolating an individual or a group to a lower or an outer edge and treating them as ‘inferiors’. In most cases, the deprivation leads to impoverishment and unemployment.

The marginalised groups refer to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Class and many minority groups who suffer from backwardness.

Question 2.
Explain the meaning of Protective Discrimination? How does it ensure socio-economic justice to the deprived section of society?
Answer:
Protective Discrimination means that the State can make special provisions to protect the interest of the socially and economically backward classes. The government can implement special schemes and measures so that they can get opportunity to occupy better socio-economic positions, at par with the persons of other castes and forge new social relations with others, irrespective of caste consideration.

Question 3.
Explain the main provisions of the Cultural and Educational Rights.
Answer:
Cultural and Educational Rights:
The Constitution has provisions that safeguard the Cultural and Educational Rights of minorities. Minorities are free to practice their cultural aspects like festivals and other rituals. They can also run their own educational institutions for the betterment of their community members.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

Question 4.
Which three Constitutional Provisions of the Indian Constitution safeguard the marginalised in India?
Answer:
(1) Right to Equality
(2) Right against Exploitation
(3) Right to Freedom of Religion and Cultural and Educational Rights.

Question 5.
How do Directive Principles of State Policy promote the welfare of all sections of society? Give any three examples.
Answer:
The Directive Principles of State Policy lay down major fundamentals in the governance of the country.
(i) They direct the states to apply these principles while making laws to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people.
(ii) They aim to minimise the inequalities in income and eliminate inequalities of status.
(iii) They ensure that the material resources of the country are utilised for common good.

E. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Describe any five welfare schemes launched by Government of India for the upliftment of the needy and the downtrodden.
Answer:
Five welfare schemes launched by the Government of India are as follows:
(i) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): It is primarily a welfare housing scheme launched by the Central Government. The houses would be distributed to the needy sections of society and a subsidy on loan would be provided by the Central Government, thereby making affordable housing for the economically weaker sections of the country. Special preference would be given to senior citizens, women and SCs/STs in allotment of these houses.

(ii) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Under the PMJDY, any individual above the age of 10 years and does not have a bank account can open a bank account without depositing any money. The scheme targeted the people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) but is beneficial to everyone, who does not have a bank account.

(iii) Stand-Up India Scheme: The scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship among SCs/STs and women. It provides composite loan for setting¬up any new enterprise between 10 lakh rupees and up to one crore.

(iv) Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY): Under this Income Declaration scheme, the government would mobilise the money for utilising and meeting the welfare needs of the poor population.

(v) Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY): It lays special emphasis on financial empowerment of the girl child. Through this scheme, the parents of any girl child below 10 years can open a saving account for their daughter and operate it till she attains an age of 21 years. After that time, they can withdraw the money and use it for her marriage or higher education. The scheme offers a high rate of return even much higher than PPF (Public Provident Fund).

Question 2.
What does the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aim at? How far has it been successful so far? List any five tasks related to cleanliness which the students must undertake.
Answer:
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims to achieve the following:

  • To construct toilets.
  • To eradicate manual scavenging.
  • To change people’s attitudes to sanitation and create awareness.

Swachh Bharat Mission can only be made successful if manual scavenging in the states is completely eliminated and replaced with modern toilets. The progressive rehabilitation of those dependent on scavenging has to be planned simultaneously through skill development programmes so that they get suitably rehabilitated. Moreover, Swachh Bharat Mission will succeed only when each and every Indian becomes responsible about creating, managing waste and not littering public places.

Students must undertake the following tasks:

  • Avoid littering in public places.
  • Keep their schools and homes clean.
  • Throw garbage in proper places.
  • Avoid throwing rubbish into rivers.
  • Promote campaign to end open defecation.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

Question 3.
Highlight any five special measures taken by the Government of India for the upliftment of Backward Classes.
Answer:
The Government of India has taken several special measures for the upliftment of backward classes:

1. The practice of untouchability has been abolished under the Right to Equality.

2. There are special provisions like Protective Discrimination. It means that the state can make special provisions to protect the interest of the socially and economically backward classes.

3. The government can implement special schemes and measures so that they can get opportunity to occupy better socio-economic positions at par with the persons of other castes and forge new social relations with others, irrespective of caste consideration.

4. The Directive Principles of State Policy lay down important fundamentals in the governance of the country. They direct the states to apply these principles while making laws to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people. They aim to minimise the inequalities in income and eliminate inequalities of status.

5. The reservation policy of the Government of India is one of the special measures to provide social justice to all and to end inequalities in our society. Under this policy, seats are reserved for SC/ST/OBC in the legislatures, government services, schools, colleges, etc.

Question 4.
Explain the main provisions of Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. List any six offences which are punishable under this Act.
Answer:
This Act prevents offences of atrocities against the members of SC / ST. It contains a long list of offences and seeks to punish the offenders if proved guilty:

  • Forcing a member of SC/ST to drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance.
  • Insulting or annoying any member of a SC/ST.
  • Wrongfully dispossessing a member of a SC/ST from his land.
  • Compelling to do ‘begat* or bonded labour.
  • Force anyone not to vote or to vote for a particular candidate.
  • Use of force on any woman belonging to a SC/ST.
  • Committing the mischief by fire.
  • Causing destruction of a building

which is ordinarily used as place of worship or human dwelling.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

Question 5.
How can we ensure that the marginalised and weaker section of society equally benefited from the Government programmes? Suggest any five measures.
Answer:

  • The marginalised and weaker section of society should be given enough opportunities to join the mainstream of the country. This can be possible only if their health and education are given top priorty.
  • We must ensure that the interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, Minorities, women and children are protected and justice is provided to them.
  • The abolition of untouchability by the Constitution means that no one can henceforth prevent Dalits from educating themselves, entering temples, using public facilities, etc. This should be made effective so that they really enjoy the benefits.
  • The Government of India should make all efforts to eradicate poverty, ignorance and disease which are deeply rooted in our societies, especially among the marginalised and weaker sections of society.
  • Employment opportunities should be increased for them in order to empower them in the real sense.

Value Based Question

Manual scavengers have to remove human excreta from several homes every day. The government declaration of 100% Individual Household Latrine Coverage in the States differs from the ground reality. The fact remains that employing scavengers and constructing dry latrines continue in many parts of India inspite of the fact that this offence invites imprisonment up to one year and a fine of Rs. 2000.
Study carefully the above given paragraph and answer the following questions:

Question 1.
What stringent measures can be taken to implement the law?
Answer:
Some of the stringent measures:
(i) The government should prohibit the practice of open defecation and manual scavenging. The Supreme Court should order the Central and State government to verify the fact and take necessary steps against those who violate this law.
(ii) Education is the key to enlightenment and hence not only should the dalits be educated but the upper caste mindset should also be encouraged to change these things and to stop manual scavenging and dry latrines construction.

Question 2.
In your opinion, should the manual scavengers be allowed to continue to earn their livelihood or banned? Justify your answer with three suitable arguments.
Answer:
Manual scavenging should be banned as it is disgraceful practice.
Manual scavengers are often given orders and that too in a very harsh and ruthless tone. They are neither paid well nor fed well, but they are helpless as they are poor. The government should provide them education and training so that they can do other valuable work to earn their livelihood. Everyone is equal and deserves to be treated with dignity.

Map Skill

Following is the list of Indian cities that have fared well on cleanliness parameters under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Show these cities on an outline political map of India.

Rank Rank Top 5 Cities/States
I Indore (MP)
II Bhopal (MP)
III Vishakhapatnam (AP)
IV Surat (Gujarat)
V Mysore (Karnataka)

Answer:
DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer -1

Something to Do

Question 1.
Prepare a brochure on the inhuman practice of scavenging by highlighting the prevalence of the practice, the health problems that it poses and what can be done to eradicate it. Your brochure should refer to Swachh Bharat Sarvekshan done recently to survey the success of the cleanliness mission.
Answer:
Do yourself.

Question 2.
Out of 434 cities surveyed recently on their performance on five components of Swachh Bharat Mission—waste collection, solid waste management, construction of toilets, sanitation strategies and behaviour change communication, few cities of India performed the worst like-Katihar in (Bihar), Hardoi (UP), Bagaha (Bihar), Bhusawal (Maharashtra) and Gonda (UP).
Why did the above mentioned cities not fare well on cleanliness parameters? What could be the reasons behind that?
Answer:
Do yourself.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

Question 3.
Suggest three steps that can make Swachh Bharat Mission successful.
Answer:
Do yourself.

DAV Class 8 Social Science Chapter 22 Question Answer – Safeguarding the Marginalised

A. Fill in the blanks.

1. The forced labour is called ________ .
Answer:
begar

2. The Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 was enacted to prevent atrocities on members of ________ .
Answer:
scheduled castes/ scheduled tribes

3. The Directive Principles of State Policy are not ________ by law.
Answer:
enforceable

4. Many Dalit Communities have remained backward due to exploitation, ________ and ________ .
Answer:
discrimination; marginalisation

5. Marginalisation means social process of ________ and ________ an individual or group.
Answer:
discriminating; isolating.

B. Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Mention any two Fundamental Rights which contain special provisions for the minorities.
Answer:

1. Right to Freedom of Religion
2. Cultural and Educational Rights

Question 2.
In what two ways does the Right to equality ensure the welfare of the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?
Answer:

  • Protective Discrimination
  • Reservation in the legislatures, government services, schools, colleges, etc.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

Question 3.
What is meant by ‘begar’?
Answer:
‘Begar’ means forced labour. It is a practice where the worker is forced to render service to the master free of charge or at a nominal remuneration.

Question 4.
What is untouchability?
Answer:
Untouchability is an inhuman product of the caste system. It is a form of social isolation of certain castes / communities.

Question 5.
Who is a manual scavenger?
Answer:
A manual scavenger is a person who removes human waste or excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carry it on the head to the disposal grounds some distance away.

Question 6.
What work does a manual scavenger do?
Answer:
He does the work of carrying human and animal waste/excreta.

Question 7.
What efforts has the Government of India made to safeguard the dignity of all sectors of society?
Answer:
The Government of India passed the employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act in 1993 as an effort to safeguard the dignity of all sectors of society.

Question 8.
What does the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act prohibit?
Answer:
This Act prohibits the employment of manual scavengers as well as the construction of dry latrines.

Question 9.
Why do you think reservations play an important role in providing social justice to SC/ST/OBCs? Give one reason.
Answer:
Reservations create special opportunities for SC/ST/OBCs to come up in the mainstream of the society.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

Question 10.
Name two Fundamental Rights that provide special provisions for minorities.
Answer:

1. Right to Freedom of Religion.
2.Cultural and Educational Rights.

Question 11.
How can you say that reservation is an unending issue?
Answer:
Initially, reservation was provided for SCs/STs only. Later on, OBCs were also included and now the other minorities are demanding reservations as well. Thus, reservation seems to be an unending . issue.

Question 12.
List two Fundamental Rights that the practice of manual scavenging j violates.
Answer:

1.Right to Equality
2.Right against Exploitation

C. Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
How does the Constitution of India safeguard children from exploitation? Mention any three provisions. (DAV Board 2013)
Answer:
Three provisions of the Constitution that safeguard children from exploitation are:

1.The Constitution prohibits trafficking in human beings. Traffic here means selling and buying of human beings,
2.Our Constitution also prohibits forced labour or begar in any form,
3.The Constitution also prohibits child labour. No one can employ a child below the age of fourteen to work in any factory or mine or in any other hazardous work, such as railways and ports.

Question 3.
‘Manual scavenging is an open violation of the Fundamental Right against Exploitation’. Do you agree with this statement? Justify your statement.
Answer:
I do agree with the above statement. Manual scavenging is a scourge on the society. I can give a few points to justify the statement:

1. Manual scavengers are exposed to subhuman conditions of work and face serious health hazards.
2.They are constantly exposed to infections that affect their eyes, skin, respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems.
3.They get very low wages for the work they perform. Unfortunately, the system still prevails in many parts of the country.

DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 22 Question Answer - Safeguarding the Marginalised

D. Long Answer Types Questions

Question 1.
Explain the impact of many welfare schemes for the Scheduled Tribes launched by the government.
Answer:
There are specific laws and policies for the Scheduled Tribes, who are 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. The government then makes an effort to promote such policies in order to give opportunities to specific groups. As a result of the government’s welfare schemes, the students of the community of Scheduled Tribes are able to avail education facilities. The government provides for free or subsidised hostels for ST students.

The government also operates through laws to ensure that concrete steps are taken to end inequity in the system. One such law or policy is the reservation policy. Under this policy, seats are reserved for SC/ST/OBCs in the legislatures, government services, schools, colleges, etc. These special privileges aim to bring them at par with the so called ‘forward castes’ and to give them their rightful place in the society.

Something to Do

Question 1.
Divide the whole class into four groups and name them as
(a) Justice Group
(b) Liberty Group
(c) Equality Group and
(d) Fraternity Group.
Organise an inter-group, declamation contest. Two speakers from each group should speak on the following topics according to their names.
(a) Justice : Social, Economic and Political
(b) Liberty of Thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.
(c) Equality of status and of opportunity.
(d) Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual.
Answer:
Organise the declamation contest in the presence of your teacher.

Question 2.
Collect photographs of various tribal groups of India. Find about their dress, food they eat, vocation, culture, etc. Highlight the problems they are facing. What are the visible changes in their lifestyle? Are they happy with the new changes.
Answer:
Some of the problems they are facing-

  • They are in constant fear of insecurity.
  • They do not have access to resources and opportunities.
  • They find themselves unable to assert their rights.
  • They experience a sense of disadvantage and powerlessness.
  • They are not self-sufficient.