On equality

Q.1 In a democracy, why is a universal adult franchise important?

Solution: In a democracy, a universal adult franchise is important, as it is based on the idea of

equality. It states that every adult in a country, irrespective of their wealth and the communities
she/he belongs to, has one vote.

Q.2 Re-read the box on Article 15 and state two ways in which the article address inequality?

Solution: Article 15 addresses inequality in terms of discrimination based on religion, race, caste,

gender, place of birth etc. It also addresses the fact that the use of public places such as wells,
tanks, bathing Ghats, roads under full or partial government funding are not subject to
discrimination based on the criteria’s mentioned above.

Q.3 In what ways was Omprakash Valmiki’s experience similar to that of the Ansaris?

Solution: Omprakash Valmiki was discriminated against on the account of his caste, while the
Ansaris were discriminated against on account of their religion. The core similarity is that they
both were discriminated against because of their birth, which is prohibited under Article 15.
Omprakash Valmiki was not allowed to sit with his fellow classmates on account of his birth as a
Dalit and was made to sweep the school and its environs, thus hurting his dignity. The Ansari’s
were denied a flat to rent, as their religion differed to those of others, who were in majority
among the occupants of the apartment complex.

Q.4 What do you understand by the term “all personnel are equal before the law”? Why do you
think it is important in a democracy?

Solution: The term “all persons are equal before the law” states that all citizens, irrespective of
their social or economic background, have to obey the same laws. No person shall be
discriminated against in the eyes of the law on the grounds of race, religion, caste or gender.

The very essence of democracy is the idea of equality, as it gives equal and if not important
recognition to all. It would never have existed in the first place if there were inequalities on the
basis of race, religion and gender etc.

Q.5 The Government of India passed the Disabilities Act in 1995. This law states that persons
with disabilities have equal rights and that the government should make possible their full
participation. The government has to provide free education and integrate children with
disabilities into mainstream schools. This law also states that all public spaces including
buildings, school etc. should be accessible and provided with ramps.

Look at the photograph and think about the boy who is being carried with the stair. Do you think
that the law stated above is being implemented in this regard? What needs to be done to make
the building accessible?
Solution: It is evident that the boy in the photograph is disabled. As per the Disabilities Act 1995,
the building should have been accessible to him. But the law is not being enforced here. In fact, it
can be quite dangerous for him to be carried down by the security guards. To remedy this
situation, the government can build a ramp along the stairs of every building. In this way, those
with physical disabilities can have easy accessibility.

Role of the government in

health
1. In this chapter, you have read that health is a wider concept than illness. Observe this quote
from the Constitution and explain the terms ‘living standard’ and ‘public health’ in your own
words. An important aspect of the Constitution says it is the “duty of the state to raise the level
of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health”.

Solution: Living standard is defined as an individual’s level of living – with regards to wealth,

comfort, material goods and in this context, health. Living in excellent hygienic conditions are a
good indicator of how high the living standard of an individual or the nation in general is. On the
contrary, the lower the hygiene standards, the lower the living standards. An example of a low
living standard is staying in dirty surroundings and consuming unhygienic food.

Public health is defined as the science of protecting and improving the general health of the
general population through education, policy-making and research on disease and injury
prevention. Indicators such as mortality rate, birth rate, nutrition index, etc. are used to measure
how good or bad public health is for a given population

2. What are the different ways through which the government can take steps to provide
healthcare to all? Discuss

Solution: The government can take the following steps in providing basic healthcare to its
citizens

 As in the case of the Kerala government, state governments can empower local
panchayats by funding them, in the process making them a self-reliant healthcare unit.
  Governments can lay emphasis on imparting education regarding healthcare to the local
populace, such as healthy habits and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
 By providing sanitation, safe drinking water, sanitation and nutrition.
 Organization of free health check-ups on a monthly basis will also play a crucial role.
3. What differences do you find between private and public healthcare services in your area?
Use the following table to compare and contrast these.

Facility Cost of Services Availability of service

Private

Public
Solution:

Facility Cost of services Availability of service

Private High, very Everything is available but at a high cost

expensive

Public Either free or at a There is always a rush at public hospitals. Even though basic services are
subsidised cost available, they are inadequate for the large number of patients visiting such
hospitals
4. ‘Improvement in water and sanitation can control many diseases’. Explain with the help of
examples.

Solution: Poor quality of water leads to a rise in many communicable diseases like cholera,
typhoid and jaundice. In addition to that, the sources of such poor quality of water often act as a
breeding ground for parasites and insects. Particularly, stagnant water can cause mosquitoes to
breed, which are the agents of Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, etc. Eliminating these breeding
grounds for parasites will prove crucial in improving the health conditions of the populace living
nearby.

For example, let’s consider the recent outbreak of dengue that happened in the city. Negligence
on the part of the civic authorities in maintaining the canals and lakes leads to a surge in dengue
and malaria cases across the city. Mosquito larvae need stagnant water to grow. Due to pollution
and faulty waste management practices, these canals and lakes had turned into an ideal
breeding ground for mosquitoes. It was only after draining the canals and cleaning the lakes with
the help of sewage treatment plants and solvents, the outbreak was contained.

How the state government

works
1. Use the terms ‘constituency’ and ‘represent’ to explain who an MLA is and how is the person
elected?
Solution: In accordance with the population, a state is divided into constituencies. For
representation in the Legislative Assembly, every constituency elects one representative who
shoulders the responsibility of representing his/her constituency at the national level. These
representatives are called MLAs or Members of Legislative Assembly, and are elected through a
general election. They could be part of a political party or can also be independent candidates.
They also have the additional responsibility of presenting the needs and demands of their
constituency at the Legislative Assembly.

2. How did some MLAs become Ministers? Explain

Solution: The party, which gets the majority votes in the general elections, forms the government.
As per constitutional norms, the ruling party elects its leader as the Chief Minister of the
respective state. Upon the election of a Chief Minister, he/she constitutes a cabinet with
members of his/her party included. This is done in consultation with the Governor of the state.
Once the MLAs are ordained as ministers through the formation of the cabinet, they are allotted
portfolios such as health, law, education, etc. Thus, they become responsible for the portfolio
allotted to him/her.

3. Why should the decisions taken by the Chief Ministers and other ministers be debated in the
Legislative Assembly?

Solution: Every decision taken by the Chief Minister and his/her cabinet, must be debated upon
the Legislative Assembly to ensure that the decision being taken is in the best interest of the
common people at large. Also, discussed is the level of priority the said decision must be given,
the subsequent cost of implementing it and whether, such a decision will earn the objections of
any particular community.

4. What was the problem in Patalpuram? What discussions/actions were taken by the
following? Fill in the table.

Public meeting

Legislative Assembly

Press conference

Chief Minister
Solution:

Public meeting Condemned the government, carried out protests and put forth their demand

Legislative Discussed the issue and decided the course of action

Assembly

Press Conference The health minister presented the plan of action initiated by the Government

Chief Minister Visited the village of Patalpuram, announced compensation to the affected families, also
clarified the future action that will be taken to solve the problem
5. What is the difference between the work that MLAs do in the Assembly and the work done by
government departments?

Solution: The core difference between the work done by MLAs in the assembly and the
government departments is that every government department is headed by a minister, who is
also an MLA. The minister approves any work done or proposed by the department. The
department is responsible for the completion of the work, while the MLAs coordinate between
the Legislative Assembly and the various government machinery that will be involved in the
completion of any projects undertaken.

Growing up as boys as girls

1. Are the statements given alongside true or false? Support your answer with the use of an
example –

(a) All societies do not think similarly about the roles that boys and girls play

(b) Our society does not make a distinction between boys and girls when they are growing up

(c) Women who stay at home do not work

(d) The work that women do is less valued than that of men

Solution: (a) True. More importance is given to the work done by boys instead of the ones done
by girls.

(b) False. Right from the outset of their growing phase, our society makes it a point to distinguish
between boys and girls. From an early age, boys are taught to be tough and serious while girls
are taught to be coy and soft. Toys like guns and cars are given for boys to play, while girls will
be given dolls.

(c)False. A woman who stays at home does housework. A lot of it. They wash clothes, sweep,
clean, cook food and pretty much keep the entire house in order.

(d) True. Despite the fact that women do a lot of work, their work goes undervalued. Part of the
reason why is that because there is no monetary value attached to it, there is social conditioning
that household work comes naturally to women and that it is expected of them.

2. Housework is invisible and unpaid work

Housework is physically demanding

Housework is time-consuming

Write in your own words what is meant by the terms ‘invisible’, ‘physically demanding’, and
‘time consuming’? Give one example of each based on the household tasks undertaken by
women in your home.

Solution:

i. Invisible. It means the work does not happen in our immediate presence. The primary
responsibility for housework and care-giving tasks such as taking care of children and the elderly
lies with women. Due to the fact that they are not acknowledged as work, it remains invisible.

ii. Physically demanding. House work is very tough and difficult. Women do a lot of heavy-duty
work like washing the clothes of the entire family, gathering and carrying heavy loads of firewood
among others.

iii. Time-consuming. Household chores take up a lot of time. For example, women’s routine
begins from early morning and continues up to late at night. During this period they are seen
busy fulfilling the tasks of their family members. At times, the time consumed in finishing the
chores depends on the size of the family. The larger the family, the longer it takes for completion.

3. Make a list of toys and games that boys typically play and another for girls. If there is a
difference between the two lists, can you think of some reasons why this is so? Does this have
any relationship to the roles children have to play as adults?

Solution: List of toys and games that boys play with:

 Cars
 Guns
 Action figures
 Sports items like football, volleyball, cricket, basketball, etc.
List of toys and games girls play with:

 Dolls
 Cooking items
 Dollhouses
 Fashion Toys
It is clear from the list above that society makes a distinction between boys and girls, apparent
right from their growing phase itself. Boys are taught to be tough and strong, which highlights
their manly features but girls are expected to remain in the confines of their feminine virtues. In
the end, it pushes home the message that they have specific roles to play when they grow up into
adult men and women. Later in life, this may even have adverse effects when it comes to
choosing careers.

4. If you someone working as a domestic help in your house or locality talk to her and find out a
little bit more about her life – Who are her family members? Where is her home? How many
hours does she work? How much does she get paid? Write a small story based on these details.

Solution: Shanthi has been working in my house for several years as a domestic help. She hails
from a village on the Karnataka – Tamil Nadu border. She lives here in Bangalore with her
husband and a daughter in her early twenties, who is currently pursuing B.com from a reputed
institute.

She comes at around 7.30 in the morning and gets done for the day by 6:00 in the evening. She
does her work with diligence and skill, never even once making a fuss or complaining about the
work she does.

She gets Rs.5000/- per month with all other amenities like food, clothing etc. Her husband is
involved in making wax mannequins for clothing stores which also earns him a handsome
amount every day. Thus, Shanthi is leading a happy and fruitful life with us and her family
members.

Women change the world

1. How do you think stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do, affect women’s right to
equality?
Solution: Rigorous social conditioning has enforced the stereotype that women are considered
inferior to men. It is a prevalent belief that women do not have the technical mind to be engineers
and scientists and that they are only fit for professions like teaching and nursing. This stereotype
about which profession they can or cannot pursue hinders the fight for women’s equality. It is
also a reason why they are paid less than their male counterparts.

2. List one reason why learning the alphabet was so important for women like Rashundari Devi,
Ramabai and Rokeya.

Solution: It was by learning the alphabet that women like Rashundari Devi, Ramabai and Rokeya
were able to write letters, stories and autobiographies which describes their own struggle against
inequality prevalent in society.

3. “Poor girls drop out of school because they are not interested in getting an education”. Re-
read the last paragraph on page 62 and explain why this statement is not true.

Solution: Poor girls do not leave school because they want to, but rather they are compelled to
leave for a wide variety of reasons. In rural and certain backward areas of the country, schools
lack basic infrastructure such as buildings, blackboards, stationary etc. Also, teachers are not
available on a regular basis. At times, parents of the girls also feel that it is not important to
educate a girl child, as they think a girl’s ultimate goal is to be married. Thus, they are even less
willing to spend money on sending their daughters to schools.

4. Can you describe two methods of struggle that the women movements used to raise issues?
If you had to organize a struggle against stereotypes, about what women can or cannot do,
what method would you employ from the ones that you have read about? Why would you
choose this particular method?

Solution: The women’s movement used several methods to raise issues. Three of them are:

(a) Campaigning: It is an important part of the women’s movement, as it fights discrimination

and women-related violence. Campaigns have also led to new laws being passed. One notable
example is a law being passed in 2006 that gives legal protection to women who are victims of
domestic violence. A similar campaign in the late ’90s gave birth to a law that protected women
from sexual harassment at the workplace.

(b) Protesting: Public protests and demonstrations are powerful tools for drawing attention to
injustices. I would employ this method in order to dispel a lot of stereotypes about what women
can or cannot do. Awareness alone can achieve what pressure cannot, as people themselves be
convinced on their own that certain negative stereotypes are a hindrance to a progressive society

(c) Boycott: Boycotting the establishments that are discriminatory to women can be effective in
ending discrimination and stereotypes. I would take the example of fairness cream campaign
ads. Such advertisements reinforce stereotypes that only women having fair skin will be
successful in life. It will only lead to the development of inferiority complexes in women. Thus
boycotting such products will send home the message that such ads are not accepted by the
general public and that they must be scrapped.