Social Studies VSQ (2 Marks)

In my area, a government scheme known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) was launched.
This scheme is set-up to benefit the weaker sections and low-income groups by ensuring access to various financial services such as basic savings bank accounts, loans, remittances, insurance and pension etc.

The Mid-day meal programme is an initiative taken by the government in order to provide children of elementary schools with cooked lunch all over the country.
Three benefits of the programme are
(i) It helped in reducing the hunger of poor students who cannot concentrate on their studies because of empty stomachs.
(ii) The programme also helped in improving the attendance of the students.
(iii) This programme has also helped reduce caste discrimination because children of all castes in the school eat this meal together.
This programme helped in promoting equality as it will help in reducing caste prejudices as both lower and upper caste children will sit together to eat their meals. In some places, dalit women have been employed to cook the meals.

The fight for equal rights was brought to the forefront of America's attention during the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s. African Americans are an ethnic group of Americans who have ancestry from some of Africa's racial groups.
The Civil rights movement was founded in order to end legal racial discrimination against African-Americans

The basic requirement for reducing/eliminating inequality in Indian society is to empower women and create opportunities for youth and disadvantaged communities.
Equality can only be established when people begin to believe that no one is inferior, and that every person deserves to be treated with dignity.

Equality in Indian democracy is ensured by recognising each and every individual in the country as equal, no matter to which caste, religion, tribe, educational and economic background the individual belongs.
In Indian Democracy, citizens elect their representatives through voting. The Constitution of India states that no one can be prohibited equality before the law or equal protection under the law by the government.

The challenges of democratic nation are
→ One of the most serious challenges to democracy is the presence of corrupt and dishonest political leaders.
→ Democracy include inequalities, and misuse of power.
→ The socio-economic differences among the population is another significant challenge in democracy.

When persons are discriminated against, they feel embarrassed and humiliated, which hurts their dignity.
The Indian Constitution respects the dignity of all the people as they have the right to be treated equally with respect and to be valued for who they are.

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The Universal Adult Franchise is an important aspect of democratic societies as it offers all adult citizens the right to Vote despite their economic or social status.
It promises that all adult citizens in the country have the right to vote without considering caste, colour, creed, or religion.

The two ways in which the government has tried to implement the equality that is guaranteed in the Constitution are
(i) Firstly, through the laws.
(ii) Secondly, through government programmes or schemes to help disadvantaged communities.

The people are treated unequally on the basis of caste, religion, tribe, educational and economic background.
Equality can only be established when people begin to believe that no one is inferior, and that every person deserves to be treated with dignity.

The boy in the photograph clearly has a disability. The Disabilities Act, 1995 is not being implemented in this case.
The building is not accessible for him and in order to make it possible ramps should be constructed.
The boy's dignity is affected as he's being carried down by others, which may make him feel dependent on others. It also affects his safety as he may anytime fall from the chair due to negligence and incapacity.

"All persons are equal before the law" means that all citizens, regardless of their class or economic background, are equal and there are same laws for every one. No one should be discriminated against under the law on the basis of race, religion, caste, or gender. Each and every person, that is, from the President of the country to the domestic workers should be treated equally and have to follow the same laws.
In a democracy, equality is important because it suggests no one should be treated unfairly due to their caste, colour, religion, gender, or any other factor. Equality also reflects the real character of democracy. It ensures that everyone has equal opportunities and live in dignity.

Article 15 addresses discrimination based on religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, and so on. It addresses inequality and discrimination by
→ allowing access to shops, public places, hotels, restaurants and places of public entertainment.
→ allowing the general public to use the wells, tanks, bathing ghats and roads which are maintained fully or partly by state funds.

The Universal Adult Franchise is important in a democracy because it serves as the basis for all elections that are held to choose the government at all levels.
Universal Adult Franchise means that all the adults who are 18 years of age and above, have the right to vote, irrespective of their religion, caste, colour, race, economic and educational conditions. In a democracy, the people rule the country and make all decisions. This is only possible if each and every individual is free to choose the type of government they want.