Class 8 Civics

Confronting Marginalisation

NCERT Solution

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: Two Fundamental Rights that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they be treated with dignity as equals can be as follows:

Question 2: Re-read the story of 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: Unlike other people from his caste, Rathnam was educated and hence was aware of his rights. He did not have to worry about finding gainful employment from upper caste people in the village. He took the whole incident as an attack on his dignity. Hence, Rathnam used the SC & ST Act to file a complaint.

Question 3: Why do Adivasi activists, including C. K. Janu, believe that Adviasis 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: This Act does have the provision against the act that dispossess Dalits and Adivasis of their meagre resources or which forces them into performing slave labour.

Question 4: The poems and the songs 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.

Answer: Do it yourself

(b): Identify a marginalized 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: Do it yourself