Prejudice and Discrimination Chapter Notes | Civics Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

The Equal Opportunities Commission

• The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is a legal body set up on February 20, 2014.
• It aims to stop discrimination against minority communities in jobs and education.
• The EOC ensures minorities are not discriminated against based on religion.
• It recommends ways to provide fair job and education opportunities for minorities.
• It addresses issues like denial of housing or buying rights to minorities.
• Bodies like the EOC are needed to promote equality and protect minority rights.
• They help reduce unfair treatment and ensure equal access to opportunities.

Prejudice

• Prejudice is judging others negatively without knowing them well.
• It involves having false beliefs or ideas about people or groups.
• Prejudice can be based on factors like region, caste, religion, or appearance.
• It leads to unfriendly or rude behavior, causing hurt or harm.
• Prejudice creates differences and disharmony among people.

How to Overcome Prejudices

• Understand people before forming opinions about them.
• Give everyone a chance to connect and learn about each other.
• Respect and accept India’s diverse cultures, languages, and religions.
• Learn about different communities to broaden the mind.
• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Stereotypes

• Stereotypes are fixed beliefs about a person or group, often untrue.
• They are based on factors like religion, region, gender, or economic background.
• Stereotypes lead to assumptions that everyone in a group is the same.
• They prevent seeing individuals for their unique talents and qualities.
• Respecting differences helps avoid stereotyping people.

Discrimination

• Discrimination happens when people act on their prejudices and stereotypes.
• It involves treating people unfairly based on religion, caste, gender, or economic background.
• It denies equal rights, opportunities, or participation in social activities.
• Discrimination creates gaps and inequalities in society.
• It prevents people from progressing and causes social injustice.

Kinds of Prejudices and Discriminations

• Discrimination can occur due to religion, region, caste, gender, or economic background.
• India’s diversity often leads to prejudices and inequalities.
• Disability discrimination affects people with physical or intellectual limitations.
• People with special needs, like blindness or Down’s syndrome, face unfair treatment.
• Famous people like Beethoven, Stephen Hawking, and Helen Keller overcame disabilities.

Caste-based Discrimination

• Caste-based discrimination happens when people are treated unfairly due to their caste.
• In the past, the caste system divided people into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras based on jobs.
• Jobs like garbage picking or cleaning were seen as impure, and those doing them were called untouchables.
• Untouchables, now called Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Dalits, faced severe discrimination.
• Dalits were denied temple entry, education, and public facilities like wells.
• Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, a Dalit, faced discrimination but became a great leader.
• He fought against untouchability and for equal rights for Dalits.
• Dr. Ambedkar encouraged Dalits to pursue education and government jobs.
• He was the first from his caste to study abroad and become a lawyer.
• As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he helped create the Indian Constitution.

Multiple Identities

• Judging someone based on one aspect limits their identity.
• People have multiple identities shaped by their region, culture, and surroundings.
• Migration and mobility create diverse ethnic and national identities.
• Individuals should not be judged based on a single factor.

The Constitution and Diversity

• During India’s freedom struggle, Dalits, tribals, women, and farmers fought for equality.
• They opposed discrimination, like temple entry bans or high interest rates by moneylenders.
• Women demanded equal education rights as men.
• The Indian Constitution, framed in 1947, ensures equality for all citizens.
• It bans discrimination based on religion, caste, gender, color, or language.
• Untouchability is illegal and punishable by law.
• The Constitution supports the upliftment of socially and economically weaker sections.
• As stated in our Constitution, India is a secular nation.
• This means that individuals are free to practice any religion, speak any language, celebrate any festival, and choose any occupation.
• There are no mandatory religions, languages, or festivals that people must follow.
• The government treats all religions equally.
• Yet, even after gaining independence, discrimination still exists in various parts of the country.
• It is everyone's responsibility to promote equality and take active steps to appreciate and respect the diverse culture of our nation.