Exercises- Understanding Marginalisation
Exercises- Understanding Marginalisation Important Formulae
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Grade 8 → Civics → Understanding Marginalisation → Exercises- Understanding Marginalisation
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Solved Example: 5-1-01
Write in your own words two or more sentences of what you understand by the word ‘marginalisation’.
Solution:
Marginalisation
Marginalisation refers to the process of treating a group of people or an individual as insignificant or less important. This often leads to their exclusion from the mainstream society, limiting their access to resources, opportunities, and rights. Marginalised groups can include certain social, economic, or cultural communities who face discrimination or oppression.
Solved Example: 5-1-02
List two reasons why Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalised.
Solution:
Reasons for the Increasing Marginalisation of Adivasis
1. Loss of Land and Livelihood: Adivasis are often displaced from their ancestral lands due to industrialisation, mining, and construction of large projects like dams. This leads to a loss of their primary source of livelihood and forces them into poverty.
2. Cultural Erosion: Due to exposure to mainstream culture and lack of access to quality education, Adivasis face a gradual erosion of their unique traditions, languages, and ways of life. This marginalisation makes it harder for them to maintain their identity.
Solved Example: 5-1-03
Write one reason why you think the Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important?
Solution:
Reason for the Importance of Constitutional Safeguards for Minority Communities
One important reason why the Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important is that they ensure equality and prevent discrimination. These safeguards provide protection against the tyranny of the majority, ensuring that minority groups can practice their culture, religion, and language without fear of oppression. This helps maintain social harmony and respect for diversity in a democratic society.
Solved Example: 5-1-04
Re-read the section on Minorities and Marginalisation. What do you understand by the term minority?
Solution:
Minority
The term 'minority' refers to a group of people who, due to their distinct characteristics, such as religion, language, ethnicity, or culture, are fewer in number compared to the dominant group in a society. Minorities can face disadvantages or exclusion due to their distinct identity, and they may have less power, resources, or influence than the majority group. The Constitution of India recognizes the need to protect the rights of minorities to ensure their well-being and participation in the social, cultural, and political life of the country.
Solved Example: 5-1-05
You are participating in a debate where you have to provide reasons to support the following statement: ‘Muslims are a marginalised community’. Using the data provided in this chapter, list two reasons that you would give.
Solution:
Reasons to Support the Statement: 'Muslims are a Marginalised Community'
1. Economic Disadvantages: Data shows that Muslims in India have lower levels of income and higher rates of poverty compared to other communities. According to the Sachar Committee Report, Muslims have relatively low access to educational and employment opportunities, which leads to economic marginalisation.
2. Social Exclusion and Discrimination: Muslims face social exclusion in various spheres of life, including education, employment, and access to basic services. Reports and surveys indicate that they are often discriminated against due to their religion, leading to their marginalisation in society.
Solved Example: 5-1-06
Imagine that you are watching the Republic Day parade on TV with a friend and she remarks, “Look at these tribals. They look so exotic. And they seem to be dancing all the time”. List three things that you would tell her about the lives of Adivasis in India.
Solution:
1. Adivasis live in remote areas, often in forests or hilly regions, and rely on agriculture, hunting, and gathering for their livelihoods.
2. Many Adivasis face challenges such as lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure, which leads to a higher rate of poverty in their communities.
3. Adivasis have their own distinct cultures, languages, and traditions, and their dances are an important expression of their rich heritage and community life.
Solved Example: 5-1-07
In the storyboard you read about how Helen hopes to make a movie on the Adivasi story. Can you help her by developing a short story on Adivasis?
Solution:
Short Story on Adivasis
Once upon a time, in the dense forests of a remote village, lived a small community of Adivasis. The villagers were deeply connected to nature, their lives intertwined with the forests that surrounded them. They lived in harmony with the land, growing crops like rice, millet, and vegetables, and hunting small animals for food. Their huts were made of bamboo, and they used leaves for roofs, living simply and peacefully.
The Adivasis followed their age-old traditions, passing down stories, songs, and rituals from one generation to the next. The elders of the village were highly respected for their wisdom, and every evening, the young ones would gather around a campfire to listen to their tales. These stories often spoke of the forests, the animals, and the spirits that protected their land.
One such story was about the mighty tiger that roamed the forest. It was believed that the tiger was the guardian spirit of the forest, ensuring that the balance of nature was maintained. The villagers respected the tiger and never harmed it, for they knew that their survival depended on the health of the forest and the animals within it. It was said that if the tiger was in danger, the entire ecosystem would be threatened.
The villagers also had a special connection with the trees. The great banyan tree in the center of the village was considered sacred. It was the symbol of life and strength. Every year, the villagers held a grand festival in honor of the tree, offering prayers and gratitude for the shade and shelter it provided.
One day, a group of outsiders arrived in the village. They were from the city, eager to explore the forest and extract its resources. They wanted to cut down the trees and build roads, promising that it would bring prosperity to the area. However, the Adivasis knew that such changes would destroy their way of life and harm the delicate balance of nature.
Led by their chief, the villagers gathered to discuss what to do. The chief, an old man with silver hair, stood tall and spoke to the people. He said, "Our ancestors lived in harmony with the forest, and we must continue to protect it for the generations to come. We must speak to the outsiders and make them understand that the forest is not just a resource to be exploited, but a living, breathing entity that sustains us all."
After much discussion, the villagers decided to meet the outsiders and explain their way of life. They invited them to the banyan tree, where they shared their stories, their beliefs, and their deep respect for the land. The outsiders were moved by the villagers' wisdom and the bond they shared with the forest. Eventually, they agreed to leave the forest untouched, realizing that the true prosperity of the area lay in its preservation.
From that day onward, the Adivasis continued to live peacefully in the forest, preserving their traditions and protecting the land for future generations. The village remained a symbol of harmony between humans and nature, and the Adivasis' way of life became a reminder to all that the earth's resources should be respected and protected for the well-being of all living beings.
Solved Example: 5-1-08
Would you agree with the statement that economic marginalisation and social marginalisation are interlinked? Why?
Solution:
Economic Marginalisation and Social Marginalisation
Yes, economic marginalisation and social marginalisation are interlinked. Economic marginalisation refers to the exclusion of certain groups from economic opportunities such as employment, income generation, and access to resources. Social marginalisation, on the other hand, refers to the exclusion of these groups from social, cultural, and political spheres of society. These two forms of marginalisation are often closely related because economic inequality can lead to social exclusion, and vice versa.
For example, people who face economic marginalisation due to poverty or lack of education often belong to socially marginalised groups based on caste, religion, or ethnicity. These groups may face discrimination in education, healthcare, and political participation, which in turn prevents them from accessing economic opportunities. Similarly, socially marginalised groups may not have the necessary resources or support to overcome economic challenges, creating a cycle of poverty and social exclusion.
The interlinkage between economic and social marginalisation highlights the need for comprehensive policies that address both dimensions simultaneously to promote equality and social justice in society.