Class 8 Civics Chapter 8 Important Question Answers - Confronting Marginalisation

Q1. What did the marginal groups rely on to protect themselves from continued exploitation by other groups?

Ans: Marginal groups rely on the following to protect themselves from exploitation:

• Constitution of India: They look to the Constitution for equal rights and justice.
• Judiciary System: The legal system is used to address grievances and enforce rights.

These mechanisms help ensure that their rights are respected and provide a framework for challenging injustices.

Q2. What are the seven rights stated in the Indian constitution?

Ans: 

• Right to equality
• Right to freedom
• Right against exploitation
• Right to freedom of religion
• Cultural and educational rights
• Right to constitutional remedies
• Right to life and personal liberty

Q3. What is ‘untouchability’, and who were called ‘untouchables’?

Ans: Untouchability refers to the discrimination faced by certain groups in society, particularly those deemed as low caste. This practice has led to the marginalisation of these individuals for centuries.

Those who are often called Untouchables are primarily the Dalits. They have historically faced severe social exclusion and discrimination.

• Untouchability is a form of social injustice.
• Dalits have been denied basic rights and opportunities.
• The practice is now illegal and punishable under Indian law.

Q4. What is the ‘Reservation Policy’?

Ans: The Reservation Policy ensures that a certain percentage of seats are set aside in:

• Public sector units
• Union and state civil services
• Government departments
• Public and private educational institutions

These reservations are aimed at supporting the socially and educationally backward classes, as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who have historically been underrepresented in these areas.

However, these reservations do not apply to religious or linguistic minority educational institutions.

Q5. Mention a few crimes listed in the Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989.

Ans: The Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 identifies various serious crimes against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

• Modes of humiliation:
  • Forcing a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe to consume inedible or harmful substances.
  • Removing clothes from a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe, or parading them naked or in a derogatory manner.
• Deprivation of possessions:
  • Wrongfully occupying or cultivating land owned by a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe.
• Crimes against women:
  • Assaulting or using force against women from Scheduled Castes or Tribes with the intent to dishonour them.

Q6. Why was the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 framed?

Ans: The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was established to address the ongoing issues faced by Dalits and tribal communities. Key reasons for its formation include:

• The need to combat the ill-treatment and humiliation that these groups experience daily.
• To provide legal protection against violence and discrimination.
• To ensure that the government takes serious action against atrocities committed against Dalits and tribal people.

This Act aims to create a safer environment and promote equality for these marginalized communities.

Q7. What does government do to promote social justice among Dalits and Advasis?

Ans: Government initiatives to promote social justice among Dalits and Adivasis include:

• Specific Schemes: Both state and central governments create targeted schemes for tribal areas and regions with high Dalit populations. For example, they provide free or subsidised hostels for Dalit and Adivasi students, enabling access to education that may not be available locally.
• Reservation Policy: This policy reserves seats in education and government jobs for Dalits and Adivasis. It aims to rectify historical inequities by ensuring these communities have opportunities to learn and work.

To benefit from the reservation policy, candidates must provide proof of their caste or tribe status. This helps ensure that those eligible can access educational and employment opportunities.

Q8. How does government’s reservation policy work?

Ans: Governments in India maintain lists of Scheduled Castes (Dalits), Scheduled Tribes, and various backward castes. Each state has its own list, as does the central government.

To benefit from the reservation policy, candidates must provide proof of their caste or tribe status through certificates when applying for:

• Educational institutions
• Government jobs

If a candidate's caste or tribe is on the government list, they can access reservation benefits. For college admissions, especially in professional courses like medicine, governments set cut-off marks. Only those who meet these marks can qualify for admission.

Additionally, the government offers special scholarships to support these students. To promote social justice, both state and central governments implement schemes aimed at improving opportunities for Dalits and Adivasis, such as:

• Free or subsidised hostels
• Special police stations
• Targeted schemes for girls

These measures aim to ensure that historically marginalised groups receive the support they need to overcome barriers to education and employment.

Q9. How did Kabir look at the division in society in India?

Ans: Kabir strongly criticised the caste system in his poetry. He challenged those who tried to define individuals based on their religious and caste identities. In his view:

• Every person has the potential to achieve the highest level of spiritual salvation and knowledge through their own experiences.
• His poetry emphasises the equality of all human beings and their contributions.
• He values the work of ordinary individuals, such as the potter, the weaver, and the woman carrying a water pot.

For Kabir, this labour forms the foundation for understanding the entire universe. His direct and courageous challenges continue to inspire many, especially among Dalits and marginalised groups, who resonate with his critique of social hierarchies.

Q10. What happened in parts of southern India into 1970s and 1980s? Or What did Dalit groups do in 1970s and 1980s to assert their rights? [Imp.]

Ans: During the 1970s and 1980s, parts of southern India saw the emergence of several assertive Dalit groups. These groups:

• Refused to perform their traditional caste duties.
• Insisted on being treated equally.
• Opposed practices that involved humiliation and exploitation.

The response from the more powerful castes was often violent. To highlight the ongoing issue of untouchability, Dalit groups called for:

• New laws to address various forms of violence against Dalits.
• Strict punishments for those who perpetrate such violence.

This period marked a significant assertion of rights by Dalits, aiming to combat long-standing discrimination.

Q11. Who in C.K. Janu? According to her how do governments violate the rights of tribal people?

Ans: C.K. Janu is an Adivasi activist who highlights the role of governments in violating the rights of tribal people in India. She argues that:

• Governments allow non-tribal encroachers, such as timber merchants and paper mills, to exploit tribal land.
• They forcibly evict tribal communities from their traditional homelands, particularly forests, by declaring these areas as reserved or as sanctuaries.
• In cases where tribal people have been evicted and cannot return to their lands, they must receive compensation.
• The government should create plans and policies to help displaced tribal people live and work elsewhere.

Janu emphasises that the Constitution guarantees the right of tribal people to reclaim their land, which cannot be sold or bought by non-tribal individuals.

Q12. What is the Scheduled Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act about?

Ans: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was enacted in 2006 to address historical injustices faced by forest-dwelling communities. Key points include:

• The Act acknowledges the rights of these communities to their homestead, cultivable, and grazing land.
• It grants them access to non-timber forest produce.
• It emphasises the importance of conserving forests and biodiversity.

This legislation aims to restore the rights of forest dwellers and protect their livelihoods.