Important Questions: On Equality | Social Studies (SST) Class 7 PDF Download

Q1: How can you say that establishment of equality in society is a continuous struggle?
Ans: Inspite of several efforts made by the government inequalities still exist in our society. Even today low caste people are being discriminated against and treated unequally. The reason behind it is that people refuse to think of them as equal even though the law requires it. This attitude of the people is so deeply rooted that it can not change all of a sudden. It will take a lot of time. Even though  people are aware that discrimination is against the law, they continue to treat others unequally on the basis of caste and religion. People are also discriminated against on the basis of economic status, disability and gender. Unless people believe that every person deserves to be treated equally and with dignity, the present attitude cannot be rooted out. Changing people’s attitude is a very slow process and hence establishment of equality in society is a continuous struggle.

Q2: What is universal adult franchise?
Ans: Universal adult franchise is a very important aspect of democracy. It means that all adults (those who are 18 and above) have the right to vote irrespective of their social and economic backgrounds.

Q3: Describe the provisions in the Indian Constitution regarding recognition of equality.
Ans: Regarding equality, the following are the provisions in the Constitution:

• Equality before law: Every person right from the President of the country to a daily wager; have to obey the same law.
• No discrimination based on caste, class, religion, gender, race, place of birth.
• Equal access to public place: All people have equal right on public places and amenities like playgrounds, markets, shops, roads, wells etc.
• Abolition of untouchability.

Q4: What is the condition of the African-Americans despite legislations to stop inequality?
Ans: In spite of legislations to ensure equality, the African-American continued to be extremely poor and could afford to attend only the government schools which were lacking in facilities and well-qualified teachers.

Q5: What are the provision made in the constitution for the recognition of equality?  [V. Imp.]
Ans: The provisions made in the constitution for the recognition of equality are as follow:

• Every person is equal before the law. What this means is that every person, from the President of India to a domestic worker like Kanta, has to obey the same laws.
• No person can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion, caste, race place of birth or whether they are male or female.
• Every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops and markets. All persons can use publicly available wells, roads and bathing ghats.
• Untouchability has been abolished.

Q6: What is the challenge of democracy?
Ans: No country can be described as being completely democratic. There are many communities and individuals persistently pushing for greater recognition of equality in existing and new issues.

Q7: Describe the benefits of the midday meal.
Ans: The following are the benefits of the midday meal scheme:

• Increased attendance in schools: More and more students have started enrolling and attending school because of this scheme.
• Uninterrupted work for mothers: previously the mothers had to leave their work and attend to/ feed their kids when they came home for lunch but after this scheme was implemented there is no need for them to do so.
• Reduction in caste prejudices: children from all castes and classes sit together and eat their meal, and in many cases dalit women are employed to cook the meal.
• Better concentration in studies: when the poor students are not hungry, they can concentrate and study better in the school.

Q8: Describe the struggle for equality faced by the African-Americans initially.
Ans: In the United States of America, the African-Americans whose ancestors were slaves who were brought over from Africa, had faced lot of discrimination and unequal treatment. One of the discriminatory practices they faced in their daily life was that they had to offer their seat in the bus whenever any white person wished to sit. One of the cases of such discrimination and resultant agitation is as follows:
Rosa Parks was an African –American. After a hard day at work she was travelling by bus. She refused to offer her seat to a white man. Her refusal to offer her seat in the bus to a white man on 1 December 1955 started a huge agitation against the unequal treatment meted out to the African-Americans.

Q9: What is it that makes Kanta unsure?
Ans: Kanta is a poor domestic worker. She lives in a slum which is very filthy. Her daughter is sick but she cannot skip work because she needs to borrow money from her employers to take her daughter to the doctor. Her job as a domestic help is not a permanent. She can be removed by her employers any time.

Q10: Mention two different kinds of inequalities that exist in our country. Give examples.  [V. Imp.]
Ans: Two different kinds of inequalities that exist in our country are—inequalities based on the caste system and that based on the religion.

• Omprakash Valmiki was treated extremely unequally because he was a dalit. In school, his headmaster made him sweep the school and the playground.
• The Ansaris were treated unequally on the basis differences of religion. They were looking to rent an apartment in the city. They were about to take an apartment at the first sight. But the moment the land lady knew their names she declined to rent the house.

Q11: What was the condition of the African-Americans in the United States of America prior to 1950s?  [V. Imp.]
Ans: Prior to 1950’s, the African-Americans were treated extremely unequally in the USA and denied equality through law.

Q12: Write a note on equality in Indian democracy.  [V. Imp.]
Ans: The Indian constitution recognises all persons as equals. This means that every individual in the country irrespective of his/her caste, religion, educational and economic backgrounds is recognised as equal. Although, inequality still exists in the country, yet the principle of the equality of all persons is recognised. While earlier no law existed to protect people from discrimination and ill treatment now there are several that work to see that people are treated with dignity.

Q13: What is known as the Civil Rights Movements?  [V. Imp.]
Ans: A movement took place in the USA in the late 1950’s to push for equal rights for African-Americans. This movement later came to be known as Civil Rights Movement.

Q14: Write a brief note on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Ans: The Civil Rights Act was passed in the year 1964. The Act prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion or national origin. It also stated that all schools would be open to African-American children and that they would no longer have to attend separate schools specially set up for them. However, a majority of African-Americans continue to be among the poorest in the country.

Q15: What is the major factor that would help in reducing/eliminating inequality?
Ans: The change in the mindset and attitude of the people where nobody considers the other person as inferior; is the basic requirement for reducing/eliminating equality.