Social Studies SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS(3 Mark)

1. People struggle because they are discriminated, their dignity is hurt and they are treated unequally.
2. Some of the famous struggles are like women’s movement against inequality, dowry, domestic violence, etc.
3. Likewise, the Tawa Matsya Sangh in MP came to fight for displaced people.
4. And several other struggles cooperatively or collectively led by beedi workers of fisherfolk, agricultural labourers, slum dwellers, etc.

The Indian Constituent recognises the equality of all persons. Movements and struggles for equality in India continuously refer to the Indian Constituent refer to the Indian Constitution to make their point about equality and justice for all. The fishworkers in the Twa Mastya Sanga hope that the provisons of the Constitution will become a reality through their participation in this movement.

1. When dams are built and forest areas are declared as sanctuaries for animals, thousands of people get displaced.
2. Whole villages are uprooted and people are forced to go and build new homes and start new lives elsewhere.
3. These are generally very poor and do not have any means to make a new home or get a new job for livelihood.
4. Some of them are relocated to areas outside the city.

1. When dams are built or forest areas declared sanctuaries, thousands of people are displaced.
2. Whole villages are uprooted and people are forced to go and build new homes, stars new lives elsewhere.
3. Some are relocated areas outside the city.
4. Their work and their family gets disturbed.

1. Weaver's cooperative are one way to reduce the depends on the merchant and to earn a higher income for the weaves.
2. In a cooperative people with common interests come together and work for their mutual benefit.
3. The cooperative also does the marketing. So, the role of the merchant is reduced, and weavers get a fair price on the a cloth at times, the government helps the cooperative by buying cloth from them at a reasonable price.

1. The worst discrimination is faced by minorities, women, dalits and adivasis.
2. All these people are discriminated primarily because of their social and cultural background as well as because they are women.
3. Discrimination on the basis of a person’s religion, caste and sex is another factor for being treated unequally in India.

The feeling of equality that the ballot box provides does not extend to most people's lives.The following reasons are responsible for this:

• The increasing privatisation of health services and the neglect of government hospitals have made it difficult for most poor people like Kanta, Hakim Sheikh and Aman to get good quality healthcare.
• A small juice seller does not have the resources to compete with all of the major companies who sell branded drinks through expensive advertising.
• Farmers like Swapna do not have sufficient resources to grow cotton and so have to take a loan from the traders to grow their crops. This forces them to sell their cotton at a lower price.
• Melani like the millions of domestic workers across the country, is forced to endure the insults and hardships of working as a domestic help because she has no resources to set up something on her own.

Sometimes religion, caste or gender leads to inequality. The Ansaris had the resources to pay the rent but were not able to find apartment on rent. People were reluctant due to their religion.

• Om Prakash Valmiki had to sweep the the school yard because he was Dalit
• Women's work is considered less valuable than men's work.
• All these discriminations were social, cultural or gender based Most of the times poverty, lack of dignity or respect for certain communities comes together. It becomes difficult to identify where one ends and other begins.
• Dalit, Adivasi or Muslim girls drop out of schools. This is the combined effect of lack of resources, poverty or social discrimination.

Creative Expression against Inequality:

• Some people join protest movements to fight inequality.
• At the same time others use their pen, or their voice, or their ability to dance and draw attention to issues of inequality.
• Writers, singers, dancers and artists have also been very active in the fight against inequality.
• Often poems, songs and stories also inspire us and make us believe strongly in an issue and influence our efforts to correct the situation.

The expression ‘power over the ballot box’ means all adults in India have the equal right to vote during elections. This ‘power over the ballot box’ has been used by people to elect or replace their representatives. But this feeling of equality that the ballot box provides, because the vote of one person is as good as that of another, does not extend to most people’s lives. The increasing privatization of health services and the neglect of government hospitals have made it difficult for most poor people to get good quality health care. These people do not have the resources to afford expensive private health services. Similarly, the man who sells juice does not have the resources to compete with all of the major companies who sell branded drinks through expensive advertising.

Indian Constitution recognises the equality of all. Constitution helps people in their struggle for equality through laws and through government schemes.

• Every person is equal before law.
• No one is discriminated against on the basis of religion caste race or gender.
• Everyone has access to all public places.
• Untouchability is abolished.

• The Indian constitution recognises all Indians as equal before the law.
• It states that no person can be discriminated against because his religion, sex, caste or whether he is rich or poor.
• All adults in India have the equal right to vote during elections.
• This ‘power over the ballot box has been used by people to elect or replace their representatives.