NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Civics Chapter 1 On Equality

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On Equality NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Civics Chapter 1

Class 7 Civics Chapter 1 On Equality InText Questions and Answers

Text Book Page No. 6

Question 1.
Do you think Kanta has enough reason to doubt whether she really is equal? List three reasons from the story above that might make her feel like this.
Answer:

1. Yes, Kanta has enough reason to doubt her equality.
2. The reasons that make her doubt about her equality are:
   • The statement of Jain Madam, “Make sure to do the corners properly”. It is a humiliating remark.
   • The statement of Jain Madam, “Here’s your advance, Kanta but don’t make a habit of it ” This remark is also humiliating and non-sympathetic.
   • Kanta has to stand in a queue in an OPD for her daughter’s treatment while Jain Madam never has to do it when her children are sick.

Text Book Page No. 7

Question 1.
Circle the reference to caste in the matrimonial advertisements given on text Book page no. 7.
Answer:

1. ALLIANCE invited for 32/MMS/ 5’4″/fair/b’ful girl working in IT Co. Mumbai from BE/MBA boy working in Mumbai/Abroad from IT Industry Caste no bar. CSC/SJ excuse..Send BHP (must).
2. Prof. Olfd B’ful tall girl 4 CGupta) Boy 28/6 CA Working MNC TXS USAf§ 80 k.
3. ( TAMIL BRAHMIN) Iyengar groom, 1981 born, Naithruvakashyapa Gothram, Swathi Star, 180 cms. tall, fair.

Text Book Page No. 8

Question 1.
(a) Why do you think Omprakash Valmiki was being treated unequally by his teacher and his classmates?
Answer:
Omprakash Valmiki was being treated unequally by his teacher and his classmates because he was a Dalit boy. Dalits are lower caste people who are socially and economically backward.

(b) Imagine yourself as Omprakash Valmiki and write four lines about how you would feel if you were in the same situation as him.
Answer:

1. I was directed to clean the grounds for longer hours. At that moment my classmates were reading in the class.
2. I didn’t have equal opportunities for reading as others had.
3. I was not allowed to drink from the water earthen pots as others drank. It led me to remain thirsty for the long hours in the school.
4. I was also discriminated against in the sitting arrangements because I had to sit in the last of other students on the floor.

Question 2.
(a) Why do you think the Ansaris were being treated unequally?
Answer:
Ansaris were being treated unequally because of religious discrimination under the pretest that only the non-vegetarian people resided in the apartment.

(b) What would you do if you were in the Ansaris position and could not find a place to live because some people -did not want to live next to you because of the religion you practice?
Answer:

1. First of all, I would have changed my identification and find a place with those who didn’t like Ansaris because of their religion.
2. Later on, I would do my best to impress the landlord/lady with my behaviours, thoughts, etc.
3. In the meanwhile, I will try to know the landlord’s opinion about the Ansaris religion in particular and other religions in general.
4. In the last, I shall disclose my identity as an Ansari to clear the doubts of the landlord/lady about my religion.

Text Book Page No. 9

Question 1.
If you were one of the Ansaris how would you have responded to the suggestion that you change your name?
Answer:

1. I would have changed my name but during my stay, I would have changed the attitude of my landlady regarding my religion and food habits with reasoning.
2. When my landlady would have changed her attitude towards my religion in particular and for all others in general, then I would have disclosed my identity as an Ansari.

Question 2.
Can you think of an incident in your life in which your dignity was violated,? How did this make you feel?
Answer:

1. Yes, My dignity was violated when I was in class VI. My Sanskrit teacher treated me unequally with my classmate, Ashok.
2. The Teacher gave me fewer marks for the same answer and more to Ashok.
3. In the annual exams, I did well but this time both were given the same marks. I didn’t complain to anyone, but I felt hurt.

Text Book Page No. 11

Question 1.
(1) What is the midday meal programme?
Answer:
It is the programme introduced by the government in all government elementary schools to provide children with cooked lunch.

(2) Can you list three benefits of the programme?
Answer:
The three benefits of midday meal programme are:

• More poor children have started enrolling and attending school.
• It has helped in reducing caste prejudices because both lower and upper caste children take this midday meal together in the school.
• It also helps reduce the hunger of poor students who often come to school and can not concentrate because their stomachs are empty.

(3) How do you think this programme might help promote greater equality?
Answer:

1. Children from all social classes, religions, etc. have their meal together. This lessens the sense of inferiority and superiority and enhances the sense of equality.
2. They eat the food cooked by the same people, at the same place. They eat the same foodstuff on the same type of plates. They drink water from the same source. Almost everything becomes equal, at least, during school hours.

Question 2.
(1) Find out about one
government scheme in your area.
Answer:
The government has launched, a scheme of compulsory employment for 100 days in a year for those people who are below the poverty line in my area (villages).

(2) What does this scheme do?
Answer:

1. Under this scheme identity cards are provided to those poors who are below the poverty line.
2. At least one person of each family is given an opportunity to have at least 100 days of works (employment) in a year.

(3) Whom is this scheme set up to benefit?
Answer:
This scheme benefits those who are below the poverty line in rural areas (villages).

Class 7 Civics Chapter 1 On Equality Exercise Questions and Answers

Question 1.
In a democracy why is universal adult franchise important?
Answer:
In a democracy every citizen is equal. The concept of Universal Adult Franchise is based on equality. Therefore, it is important in a democracy. Under Universal Adult Franchise every adult irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sex, etc. is allowed to vote.

Question 2.
Re-read the box on Article 15 and state two ways in which this Article addresses inequality?
Answer:
Article 15 given in the box addresses inequality in the following two ways:
(1) The state shall not discriminate against any citizen on the basis of his/her religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them. Here inequality can not be a ground for discrimination.

(2) No citizen shall be discriminated or restricted against only on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or anyone of-them in the respect of :

• Visiting shops, public restaurants, hotels, and public places of entertainment.
• Using public places maintained by the funds of the state or meant for public use like wells, ponds, bathing ghats, roads, and tourist places.

Question 3.
In what ways was Omprakash Valmiki’s experience similar to that of the Ansaris?
Answer:
Both Omprakash Valmiki and Ansaris were subjected to discrimination. Omprakash was not allowed to sit with other students in the classroom and was made to sweep the school and the playground only because he was a Dalit. Similarly, the Ansaris were not given a flat in a locality where lived the people belonging to a religion other than theirs. The moment the landlady came to know about their names, she declined to rent the house. In both cases, the dignity of a person is violated.

Question 4.
What do you understand by the term “all persons are equal before the law”? Why do you think it is important in a democracy?
Answer:
(1) All persons are equal before the law means:

• All person from the President of the country to a domestic worker, have to obey the same laws,
• No person can be discriminated against on the basis of his/her religion, race, caste, place of birth or female or male,
• All persons have the right to attend to all public places like a playground, hotels, shops, markets, wells, roads, bathing ghats.
• Untouchability has been abolished.

(2) Equality before the law is important in a democracy because it is the basic principle (backbone) of democracy. It also involves some kind of equitable distribution of income and absence of privileges and social discrimination.

Question 5.
The Government of India passed the Disabilities Act in 1995. This law states that persons with disabilities have equal rights and that the government should make possible their full participation in society. The government has to provide free education and integrate children with disabilities into mainstream schools. This law also states that all public places including buildings, schools, etc. should be accessible and provided with ramps.

Look at the photograph shown (see textbook page 15) and think about the boy who is being carried down the stairs. Do you think the above law is being implemented in his case? What needs to be done to make the building more accessible for him? How would his be carried down the stairs affect his dignity as well as his safety?
Answer:

1. No, the above law is not being implemented in his case. But now the situation is changing and ramps are being constructed on the entrances of the school buildings to make the buildings more accessible for such students.
2. His being carried down the stairs by others affects his dignity as he feels dependent upon others and he feels humiliated. It also affects his safety as he may fall off the chair when others are carrying him downstairs, due to their negligence or incapacity.