STD VI

SUBJECT: Social and political life

Chapter – 08 – Rural Livelihood- Occupations and
Professions in Rural Areas

Key Question 1 Page 258

What is rural indebtedness?
Ans Rural indebtedness is a state in which the rural borrower is unable to repay the
loan due to poverty, loss of crop, etc. He further takes debt. to pay the existing debt.
Key Question 2 Page 259
When did India begin the Community Development Programme?
Ans Community Development Programme has been launched in 1952 by the
Government of India with the aim of developing the villages and improving
agricultural production.
I Objective Type Questions
A. Multiple Choice Type Questions

1. When was Community Development Programme launched?

Ans (a) In 1952
2. Agriculture is an example of
Ans (a) primary occupation
3. According to census of 2011, what percentage of Indian population lives in
villages?
Ans (c) 68.84%
4. The Milk Capital of India, Anand is in
Ans (b) Gujarat
5. Village people often migrate to the __________ in search of job
opportunities.
Ans (d) cities

B. Unscramble the letters given in the help box and fill in the blanks.
1. People who live in villages are called rural people.
2. The main occupation in a village is agriculture.
3. Banks have been opened in villages to give loans.
4. Amul is the biggest supplier of dairy products in India.
C. Match the following:
Column A Column B
1. Small farmers (b) are in a state of rural indebtedness
2. Community Development Programme (a) started in 1952
3. Phulkari (e) traditional craft of Punjab
4. Cooperatives (c) sell butter, ghee and other dairy
products
5. Prosperous farmers (d) indulge in commercial farming

D. State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. Jobs related to land are called secondary occupation. (False)
2. Landless farmers do not possess land of their own. (True)
3. Poultry farmers supply eggs, meat and chicken. (True)

II Very Short Answers Questions

1. Define the term 'Rural Indebtedness'.
Ans Rural indebtedness refers to the state of those poor farmers and wage labours
who borrow loans from moneylenders to fulfil the needs of their family and unable to
repay the loan and accumulate it.

2. When was the Community Development Programme launched?

Ans The Community Development Programme was launched in 1952.

3. What makes the village people migrate to the cities?

Ans Seasonal unemployment in the rural area makes the village people to migrate to
cities in search of regular means of job opportunities and better livelihood options

4. What is the main occupation of the village people in India?

Ans In India, the main occupation of village people is agriculture.

5. What are the various crafts in which rural people are engaged?
Ans Rural people are engaged in various traditional crafts like making baskets, pots,
brooms, carpets, bricks, etc.

III. Short Answer Question

1. Other than agriculture, mention any four occupations pursued by village

folks.
Ans Animal husbandry, poultry farming, crafts and trade are the four occupations
pursued by village folks, other than agriculture.

IV Long Answer Questions

1. How can we classify farmers on the basis of their land holdings?

Ans Farmers have been classified into four categories:
 (i) Landless Farmers: Landless Farmers are considered as those farmers who do
not have their own land. They work on other farmer’s land and for it they receive
money. They are paid farmers.
(ii) Small Farmers: Small Farmers are those farmers who possess the land but less
than two hectares. They plough their farm and leave them until harvesting season.
(iii) Middle Farmers: The farmers who have land between two hectares to five
hectares. They use normal ways of agriculture for cultivation and harvesting.
(iv) Large Farmers: The farmers possessing land area more than five hectares are
known as large farmers. They use modern technique of agriculture for cultivation and
harvesting.

2. What is a Cottage industry? Make a list of commodities that could be

produced in such industries.
Ans (i) Cottage industry is a specialised form of small-scale industry where the
production of the commodity takes place in the homes and the labour is supplied by
the family members only.
(ii) The common machineries are used at homes. The commodities that are
produced in such industries are: candles, matchsticks, woollen shawls, straw basket,
fire crackers, incense sticks, etc.

3. Farmers are committing suicides in a large number in our country. Find out
the reasons for this. What do you think the government can do to change this
situation?
Ans Rural indebtedness, failure of crops, inability to pay loans back to the money
lenders, high cost of fertilisers, seeds and other accessories force the farmers to
commit suicide in India. Indian Government can implement some remedial measures
to control farmers committing suicide are as follows:
(i) Control on money lenders.
(ii) The government should establish small farmers’ development agency in villages.
(iii) The government should launch other rural employment schemes like NREGA for
economic upliftment of the rural poor and landless farmers or labourers.
(iv) The government must launch beneficial schemes like kisan credit cards
schemes for the welfare of farmers.
(v) The government must open kisan call centres to satisfy farmers’ queries.