Chapter 2: LOST SPRING

Part 1. Sometimes I Find a Rupee in the Garbage

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (With value points)

1. Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept? How do the incidents
narrated in the text explain this?
Ans. Rich people do not acknowledge poor-- poor beg, pick rags, sell small objects, polish shoes and
wipe windshields of their cars-- no interaction between the rich and the poor-- promises made are
generally thoughtless--
Saheb is one such example-- Author ignites spark in him when she inquires if he would join the
school that she might open-- she does not mean to do so-- fails to see the disappointment that her
promise had caused

2. How should child labour be eliminated and how?

Ans. Working of young children in hazardous situations hampers their development and growth--
permanent damage that hampers the progress of a country in particular and humanity at large--
against law-- children below the age of 14 cannot be employed as labour--
Audio and visual media mandatory for creating public awareness--banning child labour is essential--
provision of free and hygienic meals-- active role by NGOs

3. Saheb wants to blossom and bloom but is nipped in the bud. How?
Ans. Saheb a ragpicker, wants to enjoy life like the affluent--- wants to own a pair of shoes-- wants to
play tennis--
Joins a tea stall---earns rupees 800 per month-- the change is not enough-- absence of support,
guidance and facilities--the poor eventually resign to fate and give up their dreams

4. How is Seemapuri miles away from Delhi in spite of being on its periphery?
Ans. Harsh reality that all affluent cities are surrounded by slums-- every city has two faces --haves
and have-nots-- the poor exist on the periphery, the rich exploit the poor-- Seemapuri on the
periphery of Delhi yet metaphorically miles away from it-- slum people don't have the basic amenities-
- stark contrast between the two worlds

5. Keeping in view the situation of refugees in Seemapuri, comment upon the exploitation of
people living here, by the politicians for their own benefit.
Ans. Seemapuri, a glaring example of the exploitation of the poor by the politicians-- refugees living
here for more than four decades-- do not have access to any basic amenities--have valid ration
cards-- vote bank for crafty politicians-- promises not fulfilled-- unhygienic conditions-- no sanitation
facilities-- no water and electricity connection

6. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to the cities?
Ans. Social, economic and political environment in the villages deprives people of the basic things--
every human being needs food, clothing and shelter--tireless struggle for the villagers-- absence of
opportunities-- oppression by money lenders and middlemen-- unfavourable circumstances-- better
livelihood in cities-- urban settlements-- greater options and facilities-- natural instinct to survive
becomes prominent