Goa Board Class 8 Solutions for Civics – Confronting Marginalisation (English Medium)
Page No. 103:
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.
Solution :
The fundamental rights of the Constitution which Dalits can draw upon to be treated with dignity and as equals are
Right to Equality: All persons are equal before the law. No citizen can be discriminated against on the basis of his or her socioeconomic background, caste, religion etc. Every person has equal right of access to all public places.
Right against Exploitation: The Constitution prohibits trafficking, forced labour and work performed by children under 14 years of age. One cannot be exploited or forced to do any particular job because of one’s poor resources etc.
Right to Freedom: This includes the right to freedom of speech and expression, the right to move freely, the right to form associations, the right to reside in any part of the country and the right to practise any kind of profession, occupation or business.
Question 2:
Re-read the story on 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.
Solution :
Rathnam used the law ‘The 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act’ because when he refused to perform the sadistic ritual, the powerful castes in the village decided to teach him a lesson. They ordered the community to ostracise him and his family, and everyone was told that no one should speak or do any work for them or with them. Some men even burnt his house down and tried to burn him and his family alive.
Question 3:
Why do Adivasi activists, including C. K. Janu, believe that Adivasis 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?
Solution :
Adivasi activists including C. K. Janu believe that Adivasis can also use the 1989 Act to fight against dispossession because this Act guarantees the tribals not to be dispossessed from the land resources forcibly. They pointed specifically that this Act merely confirms what has already been promised to the tribal people in the Constitution-that their land cannot be sold to or bought by non-tribal people. The Constitution also guarantees the right of the tribal people to repossess their land.
Question 4:
The poems and the song 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.
- b)Identify a marginalised community in your locality.
- c)Write a poem, or song, or draw a poster etc. to express your feelings as a member of this community.
Solution :
As the answers may vary, please attempt this question on your own with the help of your subject teacher.