Class 7 Civics Chapter 8 Question Answers - A shirt in the Market

Q1. How do the merchants prepare clothes?
Ans: Weavers bring cloth that has been made on order from the merchant. These merchants supply cloth on order to garment manufacturers and exporters around country. They purchase the yam and give instructions to the weavers about the kind of cloth that is to be made. Weavers get the yam from the merchants and supply them the cloth.

Q2. How are the weavers in the grip of the local trader?
Ans: Weavers are required to invest a lot of money to buy looms. The weavers invest their savings or borrow money at high-interest rates. One loom cost is around 20,000/- and they require atleast two looms. These looms cannot be operated alone and hence their family members work together. They earn about 3,500/¬per month. Thus the weavers are always in the grip of the local trader.

Q3. Describe in brief the status of workers working in factory?
Ans: In the garment factory many workers work. Most of these workers are employed on a temporary basis. Whenever, the employer feels that a worker is not needed, the worker can be asked to leave. Workers’ wages are fixed according to their skills. In most of the cases women are employed as helpers for thread cutting, buttoning, ironing and packaging. These jobs have the lowest wages.

Q4. What are the advantages to the weavers when they work with merchants?
Ans: This arrangement has two advantages. The weavers do not have to spend their money on purchase of yam. Secondly, the weavers know from the outset what cloth they should make and how much of it is to be woven.

Q5. What do you understand about putting-out system?
Ans: In the putting-out system the merchant supplies the raw material and receives the finished product. It is prevalent in the weaving industry in most regions of India. Weavers are paid very little by the merchant under the putting-out system.

Q6. Describe the role of weaver’s cooperatives to reduce the dependence on the merchant.
Ans: Weaver’s cooperatives are one way to reduce the dependence on the merchant and to earn a higher income for the weavers. In a cooperative, people with common interests come together and work for their mutual benefit.
In a weaver’s cooperative, the weavers form a group and take up certain activities collectively. They produce yarn from the yam dealer and distribute it among the weavers. The cooperative also does the marketing. So, the role of the merchant is reduced, and weavers get a fair price on the cloth.