NCERT Textbook: Social Health | Health and Physical Education for Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


You have already learnt that, ‘Health is a state of complete 
well-being and includes physical, mental, emotional and 
social health, Many animals show remarkable social behavior. 
Humans too are social animals and much of their behaviour 
is based on social norms laid down by the human societies 
since time immemorial.
Therefore, social health is a very important issue for 
all human beings — men-women, young-old, educated-
uneducated, rich-poor. Those children who learn to become 
socially healthy remain so all their lives. This chapter, will deal 
with the ways and means of growing up as socially healthy 
individuals and also helping them to clarify myths related to 
coronavirus.
Myths and facts related to coronavirus
Statement: A person with coronavirus can recover fully and not 
be infectious any longer.
Fact: 80 per cent of the people have recovered from the disease 
without needing special treatment. But information on the virus 
treatment is still being researched.
Statement: Eating raw garlic, sesame seeds will protect you 
against the virus.
Fact: Garlic is a healthy food that has other benefits but does 
not protect you against the coronavirus.
Statement: The virus can die easily once it is out of the body.
Fact: We do not know about this particular virus as of now. 
Similar viruses (SARS, MERS) survive from 8 to 24 hours 
depending on types of surfaces.
Statement: You can get COVID-19 through mosquito bites
Fact: The coronavirus cannot be spread through the bite of a 
mosquito. It is spread thorough droplets spread when an infected 
person sneezes or coughs.
After learning this lesson one should be able to explain 
what is social health, help all to remain socially healthy and 
spread awareness about benefits of social health. 
So c i a l He a l t H
Chap-12.indd   205 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Page 2


You have already learnt that, ‘Health is a state of complete 
well-being and includes physical, mental, emotional and 
social health, Many animals show remarkable social behavior. 
Humans too are social animals and much of their behaviour 
is based on social norms laid down by the human societies 
since time immemorial.
Therefore, social health is a very important issue for 
all human beings — men-women, young-old, educated-
uneducated, rich-poor. Those children who learn to become 
socially healthy remain so all their lives. This chapter, will deal 
with the ways and means of growing up as socially healthy 
individuals and also helping them to clarify myths related to 
coronavirus.
Myths and facts related to coronavirus
Statement: A person with coronavirus can recover fully and not 
be infectious any longer.
Fact: 80 per cent of the people have recovered from the disease 
without needing special treatment. But information on the virus 
treatment is still being researched.
Statement: Eating raw garlic, sesame seeds will protect you 
against the virus.
Fact: Garlic is a healthy food that has other benefits but does 
not protect you against the coronavirus.
Statement: The virus can die easily once it is out of the body.
Fact: We do not know about this particular virus as of now. 
Similar viruses (SARS, MERS) survive from 8 to 24 hours 
depending on types of surfaces.
Statement: You can get COVID-19 through mosquito bites
Fact: The coronavirus cannot be spread through the bite of a 
mosquito. It is spread thorough droplets spread when an infected 
person sneezes or coughs.
After learning this lesson one should be able to explain 
what is social health, help all to remain socially healthy and 
spread awareness about benefits of social health. 
So c i a l He a l t H
Chap-12.indd   205 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Healt H and PHysical e ducation - c lass X
What is s ocial h ealth ?
Activity 12.1
Read the following conversation between an old grandfather, Mr. 
Das and 12-year-old grandson’s friend Ravi.
Mr. Das  : How are you Ravi and how is your grandfather?
Ravi  : I am fine but my grandfather always feels angry and 
unhappy. He criticises everyone all the time, so no 
one wants to sit and talk with him. He is boring and 
not as loving as you are. Why does he behave like 
that Dadu?
Mr. Das  : It is because he has been unwell for a long time. Your 
grandpa is not getting company from any one, this 
makes him feel lonely and isolated. In other words, 
he is suffering physically, as well as mentally due to 
his old age. He gets angry because he is unsure of 
himself now and annoys others by his comments. He 
does not think that he is acceptable in society now. 
    Which is why, he expresses his frustrations by being 
rude to others without any reason and fault of theirs.
    Why don’t you spend time with him? Talk to him 
about your friends, your day in school, a happy 
incident, a sad one also and you may observe the 
change in him within a few days.
Ravi : Thank you, Dadu. Now I understand that if someone 
is sick and emotionally unhappy, he would likely be 
angry and alienate others.
Answer in brief
 1. Give reasons for the loneliness of Ravi’s grandfather.
 2. State situations that made Ravi think his grandfather 
was alienating others.
 3. Say yes or no 
  (a) Do you agree that physical, mental and social health 
are interrelated? 
  (b) Living with others harmoniously requires a person 
to be socially healthy. State the reason for your 
choice.
Activity 12.2
 • You are in a tricky situation. Your best friend had a fight with 
another friend and you have seen that your best friend is at 
fault. You are asked to intervene to bring back peace. Will you 
announce that the cause of the fight was your best friend? 
This may become a source of annoyance to your best friend 
but if you did, that is Justice.
 • If you help, the two boys become friends again, that is 
fraternity.
Chap-12.indd   206 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Page 3


You have already learnt that, ‘Health is a state of complete 
well-being and includes physical, mental, emotional and 
social health, Many animals show remarkable social behavior. 
Humans too are social animals and much of their behaviour 
is based on social norms laid down by the human societies 
since time immemorial.
Therefore, social health is a very important issue for 
all human beings — men-women, young-old, educated-
uneducated, rich-poor. Those children who learn to become 
socially healthy remain so all their lives. This chapter, will deal 
with the ways and means of growing up as socially healthy 
individuals and also helping them to clarify myths related to 
coronavirus.
Myths and facts related to coronavirus
Statement: A person with coronavirus can recover fully and not 
be infectious any longer.
Fact: 80 per cent of the people have recovered from the disease 
without needing special treatment. But information on the virus 
treatment is still being researched.
Statement: Eating raw garlic, sesame seeds will protect you 
against the virus.
Fact: Garlic is a healthy food that has other benefits but does 
not protect you against the coronavirus.
Statement: The virus can die easily once it is out of the body.
Fact: We do not know about this particular virus as of now. 
Similar viruses (SARS, MERS) survive from 8 to 24 hours 
depending on types of surfaces.
Statement: You can get COVID-19 through mosquito bites
Fact: The coronavirus cannot be spread through the bite of a 
mosquito. It is spread thorough droplets spread when an infected 
person sneezes or coughs.
After learning this lesson one should be able to explain 
what is social health, help all to remain socially healthy and 
spread awareness about benefits of social health. 
So c i a l He a l t H
Chap-12.indd   205 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Healt H and PHysical e ducation - c lass X
What is s ocial h ealth ?
Activity 12.1
Read the following conversation between an old grandfather, Mr. 
Das and 12-year-old grandson’s friend Ravi.
Mr. Das  : How are you Ravi and how is your grandfather?
Ravi  : I am fine but my grandfather always feels angry and 
unhappy. He criticises everyone all the time, so no 
one wants to sit and talk with him. He is boring and 
not as loving as you are. Why does he behave like 
that Dadu?
Mr. Das  : It is because he has been unwell for a long time. Your 
grandpa is not getting company from any one, this 
makes him feel lonely and isolated. In other words, 
he is suffering physically, as well as mentally due to 
his old age. He gets angry because he is unsure of 
himself now and annoys others by his comments. He 
does not think that he is acceptable in society now. 
    Which is why, he expresses his frustrations by being 
rude to others without any reason and fault of theirs.
    Why don’t you spend time with him? Talk to him 
about your friends, your day in school, a happy 
incident, a sad one also and you may observe the 
change in him within a few days.
Ravi : Thank you, Dadu. Now I understand that if someone 
is sick and emotionally unhappy, he would likely be 
angry and alienate others.
Answer in brief
 1. Give reasons for the loneliness of Ravi’s grandfather.
 2. State situations that made Ravi think his grandfather 
was alienating others.
 3. Say yes or no 
  (a) Do you agree that physical, mental and social health 
are interrelated? 
  (b) Living with others harmoniously requires a person 
to be socially healthy. State the reason for your 
choice.
Activity 12.2
 • You are in a tricky situation. Your best friend had a fight with 
another friend and you have seen that your best friend is at 
fault. You are asked to intervene to bring back peace. Will you 
announce that the cause of the fight was your best friend? 
This may become a source of annoyance to your best friend 
but if you did, that is Justice.
 • If you help, the two boys become friends again, that is 
fraternity.
Chap-12.indd   206 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Social Healt H
 • Your friend Arun noticed that food was being distributed free 
of charge on the footpath. A boy wearing tattered dirty clothes 
was repeatedly being sent to the end of the queue. Arun held 
the boy’s hand and insisted that the boy be given the food 
packet then and there and not at the end. Arun believed in 
Equality of opportunity for all.
 • If you listen carefully to others opinions on a subject even 
if they do not match yours and try to understand others’ 
viewpoints, you believe in liberty.
Read the preamble to the constitution of India given at the 
beginning of all NCERT text books. It is reprinted here for 
you. (photocopy of preamble of constitution).
Fig. 12.1: Preamble to the Constitution of India
Chap-12.indd   207 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Page 4


You have already learnt that, ‘Health is a state of complete 
well-being and includes physical, mental, emotional and 
social health, Many animals show remarkable social behavior. 
Humans too are social animals and much of their behaviour 
is based on social norms laid down by the human societies 
since time immemorial.
Therefore, social health is a very important issue for 
all human beings — men-women, young-old, educated-
uneducated, rich-poor. Those children who learn to become 
socially healthy remain so all their lives. This chapter, will deal 
with the ways and means of growing up as socially healthy 
individuals and also helping them to clarify myths related to 
coronavirus.
Myths and facts related to coronavirus
Statement: A person with coronavirus can recover fully and not 
be infectious any longer.
Fact: 80 per cent of the people have recovered from the disease 
without needing special treatment. But information on the virus 
treatment is still being researched.
Statement: Eating raw garlic, sesame seeds will protect you 
against the virus.
Fact: Garlic is a healthy food that has other benefits but does 
not protect you against the coronavirus.
Statement: The virus can die easily once it is out of the body.
Fact: We do not know about this particular virus as of now. 
Similar viruses (SARS, MERS) survive from 8 to 24 hours 
depending on types of surfaces.
Statement: You can get COVID-19 through mosquito bites
Fact: The coronavirus cannot be spread through the bite of a 
mosquito. It is spread thorough droplets spread when an infected 
person sneezes or coughs.
After learning this lesson one should be able to explain 
what is social health, help all to remain socially healthy and 
spread awareness about benefits of social health. 
So c i a l He a l t H
Chap-12.indd   205 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Healt H and PHysical e ducation - c lass X
What is s ocial h ealth ?
Activity 12.1
Read the following conversation between an old grandfather, Mr. 
Das and 12-year-old grandson’s friend Ravi.
Mr. Das  : How are you Ravi and how is your grandfather?
Ravi  : I am fine but my grandfather always feels angry and 
unhappy. He criticises everyone all the time, so no 
one wants to sit and talk with him. He is boring and 
not as loving as you are. Why does he behave like 
that Dadu?
Mr. Das  : It is because he has been unwell for a long time. Your 
grandpa is not getting company from any one, this 
makes him feel lonely and isolated. In other words, 
he is suffering physically, as well as mentally due to 
his old age. He gets angry because he is unsure of 
himself now and annoys others by his comments. He 
does not think that he is acceptable in society now. 
    Which is why, he expresses his frustrations by being 
rude to others without any reason and fault of theirs.
    Why don’t you spend time with him? Talk to him 
about your friends, your day in school, a happy 
incident, a sad one also and you may observe the 
change in him within a few days.
Ravi : Thank you, Dadu. Now I understand that if someone 
is sick and emotionally unhappy, he would likely be 
angry and alienate others.
Answer in brief
 1. Give reasons for the loneliness of Ravi’s grandfather.
 2. State situations that made Ravi think his grandfather 
was alienating others.
 3. Say yes or no 
  (a) Do you agree that physical, mental and social health 
are interrelated? 
  (b) Living with others harmoniously requires a person 
to be socially healthy. State the reason for your 
choice.
Activity 12.2
 • You are in a tricky situation. Your best friend had a fight with 
another friend and you have seen that your best friend is at 
fault. You are asked to intervene to bring back peace. Will you 
announce that the cause of the fight was your best friend? 
This may become a source of annoyance to your best friend 
but if you did, that is Justice.
 • If you help, the two boys become friends again, that is 
fraternity.
Chap-12.indd   206 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Social Healt H
 • Your friend Arun noticed that food was being distributed free 
of charge on the footpath. A boy wearing tattered dirty clothes 
was repeatedly being sent to the end of the queue. Arun held 
the boy’s hand and insisted that the boy be given the food 
packet then and there and not at the end. Arun believed in 
Equality of opportunity for all.
 • If you listen carefully to others opinions on a subject even 
if they do not match yours and try to understand others’ 
viewpoints, you believe in liberty.
Read the preamble to the constitution of India given at the 
beginning of all NCERT text books. It is reprinted here for 
you. (photocopy of preamble of constitution).
Fig. 12.1: Preamble to the Constitution of India
Chap-12.indd   207 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Healt H and PHysical e ducation - c lass X
Everyone is a member of a social group and everyone 
is part of their peer group, family and kin, community, 
city, region and country, as well as the physical and 
biological environment. Would you agree that the country’s 
constitution provides for Justice, Liberty, Equality and 
Fraternity which should be adopted in life for living happily 
and having consideration for all others in the group? Let us 
understand these four terms of our constitution which are 
directly related to “social health of a person or a country”, 
and then try to define social health. In other words, if one is 
socially healthy, than will be able to develop interpersonal 
relations, through maintaining equality, fraternity and 
justice.
Let us now try and define social health.
Definition of ‘s ocial h ealth ’
Social health may be defined as the ability to form satisfying 
interpersonal relationships with others. One who is able to 
make positive relationships and acquires the ability to adapt 
in different social situations and act appropriately as per 
the situation concerned, and can be called a socially healthy 
person. 
Need for developing social health
Primitive humans were hunter-gatherers, who lived in small 
groups or clusters and spent their lives at individual levels. 
Around 10,000 years ago, they moved near rivers to grow 
their own food and began to live together. With the passage 
of time, they started to live in a society and developed a 
language for interaction with each other. As ‘human society’ 
progressed, an individual became part of many social groups 
for example a member of a peer group, a family and kin, a class 
in school, a native of a region and a citizen of one’s country. 
Social changes occur from time to time and many societies 
lay down norms and values for group living. Urbanisation 
has brought about many changes which are different from 
traditional rural societies.
Social attributes, of people however, remain the same 
as they are based on interrelationship between members of 
any society and necessary for accomplishing tasks requiring 
teamwork. School is one of the platforms for learning social 
skills.
Role of va Rious i nstitutions Promotion of social health among children requires collective 
efforts and appropriate skills. All people in the field of 
education have to think about this.
Chap-12.indd   208 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Page 5


You have already learnt that, ‘Health is a state of complete 
well-being and includes physical, mental, emotional and 
social health, Many animals show remarkable social behavior. 
Humans too are social animals and much of their behaviour 
is based on social norms laid down by the human societies 
since time immemorial.
Therefore, social health is a very important issue for 
all human beings — men-women, young-old, educated-
uneducated, rich-poor. Those children who learn to become 
socially healthy remain so all their lives. This chapter, will deal 
with the ways and means of growing up as socially healthy 
individuals and also helping them to clarify myths related to 
coronavirus.
Myths and facts related to coronavirus
Statement: A person with coronavirus can recover fully and not 
be infectious any longer.
Fact: 80 per cent of the people have recovered from the disease 
without needing special treatment. But information on the virus 
treatment is still being researched.
Statement: Eating raw garlic, sesame seeds will protect you 
against the virus.
Fact: Garlic is a healthy food that has other benefits but does 
not protect you against the coronavirus.
Statement: The virus can die easily once it is out of the body.
Fact: We do not know about this particular virus as of now. 
Similar viruses (SARS, MERS) survive from 8 to 24 hours 
depending on types of surfaces.
Statement: You can get COVID-19 through mosquito bites
Fact: The coronavirus cannot be spread through the bite of a 
mosquito. It is spread thorough droplets spread when an infected 
person sneezes or coughs.
After learning this lesson one should be able to explain 
what is social health, help all to remain socially healthy and 
spread awareness about benefits of social health. 
So c i a l He a l t H
Chap-12.indd   205 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Healt H and PHysical e ducation - c lass X
What is s ocial h ealth ?
Activity 12.1
Read the following conversation between an old grandfather, Mr. 
Das and 12-year-old grandson’s friend Ravi.
Mr. Das  : How are you Ravi and how is your grandfather?
Ravi  : I am fine but my grandfather always feels angry and 
unhappy. He criticises everyone all the time, so no 
one wants to sit and talk with him. He is boring and 
not as loving as you are. Why does he behave like 
that Dadu?
Mr. Das  : It is because he has been unwell for a long time. Your 
grandpa is not getting company from any one, this 
makes him feel lonely and isolated. In other words, 
he is suffering physically, as well as mentally due to 
his old age. He gets angry because he is unsure of 
himself now and annoys others by his comments. He 
does not think that he is acceptable in society now. 
    Which is why, he expresses his frustrations by being 
rude to others without any reason and fault of theirs.
    Why don’t you spend time with him? Talk to him 
about your friends, your day in school, a happy 
incident, a sad one also and you may observe the 
change in him within a few days.
Ravi : Thank you, Dadu. Now I understand that if someone 
is sick and emotionally unhappy, he would likely be 
angry and alienate others.
Answer in brief
 1. Give reasons for the loneliness of Ravi’s grandfather.
 2. State situations that made Ravi think his grandfather 
was alienating others.
 3. Say yes or no 
  (a) Do you agree that physical, mental and social health 
are interrelated? 
  (b) Living with others harmoniously requires a person 
to be socially healthy. State the reason for your 
choice.
Activity 12.2
 • You are in a tricky situation. Your best friend had a fight with 
another friend and you have seen that your best friend is at 
fault. You are asked to intervene to bring back peace. Will you 
announce that the cause of the fight was your best friend? 
This may become a source of annoyance to your best friend 
but if you did, that is Justice.
 • If you help, the two boys become friends again, that is 
fraternity.
Chap-12.indd   206 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Social Healt H
 • Your friend Arun noticed that food was being distributed free 
of charge on the footpath. A boy wearing tattered dirty clothes 
was repeatedly being sent to the end of the queue. Arun held 
the boy’s hand and insisted that the boy be given the food 
packet then and there and not at the end. Arun believed in 
Equality of opportunity for all.
 • If you listen carefully to others opinions on a subject even 
if they do not match yours and try to understand others’ 
viewpoints, you believe in liberty.
Read the preamble to the constitution of India given at the 
beginning of all NCERT text books. It is reprinted here for 
you. (photocopy of preamble of constitution).
Fig. 12.1: Preamble to the Constitution of India
Chap-12.indd   207 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Healt H and PHysical e ducation - c lass X
Everyone is a member of a social group and everyone 
is part of their peer group, family and kin, community, 
city, region and country, as well as the physical and 
biological environment. Would you agree that the country’s 
constitution provides for Justice, Liberty, Equality and 
Fraternity which should be adopted in life for living happily 
and having consideration for all others in the group? Let us 
understand these four terms of our constitution which are 
directly related to “social health of a person or a country”, 
and then try to define social health. In other words, if one is 
socially healthy, than will be able to develop interpersonal 
relations, through maintaining equality, fraternity and 
justice.
Let us now try and define social health.
Definition of ‘s ocial h ealth ’
Social health may be defined as the ability to form satisfying 
interpersonal relationships with others. One who is able to 
make positive relationships and acquires the ability to adapt 
in different social situations and act appropriately as per 
the situation concerned, and can be called a socially healthy 
person. 
Need for developing social health
Primitive humans were hunter-gatherers, who lived in small 
groups or clusters and spent their lives at individual levels. 
Around 10,000 years ago, they moved near rivers to grow 
their own food and began to live together. With the passage 
of time, they started to live in a society and developed a 
language for interaction with each other. As ‘human society’ 
progressed, an individual became part of many social groups 
for example a member of a peer group, a family and kin, a class 
in school, a native of a region and a citizen of one’s country. 
Social changes occur from time to time and many societies 
lay down norms and values for group living. Urbanisation 
has brought about many changes which are different from 
traditional rural societies.
Social attributes, of people however, remain the same 
as they are based on interrelationship between members of 
any society and necessary for accomplishing tasks requiring 
teamwork. School is one of the platforms for learning social 
skills.
Role of va Rious i nstitutions Promotion of social health among children requires collective 
efforts and appropriate skills. All people in the field of 
education have to think about this.
Chap-12.indd   208 8/24/2020   11:46:39 AM
Social Healt H
Role of teacher training institutes and other 
organisations
School teachers need a degree, diploma or certificates from a 
teacher training institute. There are a number of organisation 
concerned with school education. The syllabus of teacher 
training courses should include the topics of important 
issues for children of which health should be one. 
Organisations such as NCERT, SCERT, DIET should 
periodically organise workshops, publish journals and 
provide inservice training programmes on health issues 
including social health.
Role of schools in promoting social health
Schools have a very significant role to play in the promotion 
of health and safety of children. They spend a lot of time 
in school in early years. School environment forms ideal 
setting for acquiring knowledge of healthy choices of food. It 
is in school that they participate in physical activity through 
sports, games, yoga, gymnastics, exercise and gain benefits 
of each. School helps children to learn social skills which 
assist in establishing lifelong healthy behavior. Children 
learn team spirit and training in rules and regulations of 
social wellbeing just as in the defense services, which are 
inbuilt in training of defense service personnel, so they work 
together as a team to protect our nation.
In order to promote social health, the school should 
have a positive environment where children mingle with 
teachers, peer group and non-teaching staff without fear and 
apprehensions. Teacher have a significant role in this regard.
Role of teachers
It is well known that teachers are the mentors and therefore, 
the teacher training institutes should make training in 
leadership and mentorship a part of teacher training. Also well 
known saying that ‘example in better than precept’ Students 
easily learn to be socially healthy if the teacher herself or 
himself sets an example rather than lecture on social health. 
A good teacher ensures that students grow up into physically, 
mentally and socially healthy individuals. In doing this the 
teacher has to make efforts to ensure that students —
 (i) eat a proper diet and perform regular exercise and 
physical activity which are requirements of good 
physical health. 
 (ii) inculcate friendship between classmates, indulge 
in amicable behavior with others in school so that 
students develop a helpful nature. These are necessary 
for mental and emotional health. 
Chap-12.indd   209 8/24/2020   11:46:40 AM