Social problems and solutions - class-VIII

Jyotiba Phule was a prominent social reformer who led the movement against prevailing caste restrictions in India. He revolted against Brahmin domination and fought for the rights of peasant and other low caste members. Gandhi championed for the cause of untouchables. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar fought against disparities in society and discrimination of Dalits. He motivated people to fight against slavery, injustice themselves. Periyar E. V. Ramasamy was a social activist who led the self-respect movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He fought against Brahminical dominance, women oppression and caste inequalities in Tamil Nadu. All four leader worked to remove caste inequalities. Hence option B is the correct answer. 

During apartheid, people were divided into four racial groups, based primarily on skin colour and separated by law. The system was used to deny many basic rights to non-White people, mainly Black people who lived in South Africa. Hence, Option A is correct. The other options do not state the primary factor for segregation which is racial skin colour, hence, incorrect. 

Under the system of "Apartheid" prevalent in African nations, the whites used to discriminate against blacks and coloured people that is people of mixed races. The discrimination was solely based upon the race and the supremacy of whites was imposed upon these people who were called inferior races.

The Deaf and Dumb people who cannot speak and listen communicate through sign language. It helps them understand what the other person is trying to convey and to convey back to that person.

The TMS or Tawa Matsya Sangh - A federation of fishermen's cooperatives was an organization formed in the state of Madhya Pradesh to fight for the rights of the displaced forest dwellers of the Satpura forest.

Branding is an example of inequality based on the financial status of people. People are categorized or branded on the basis of their income. Branding is an important factor of inequality in India. The poor are often considered as of less value than the rich. They are often discriminated on the basis of their financial background.

The constitution is referred to as a living document. Something that has real meaning in our lives. The Indian Constitution recognizes the equality of all persons. Movements and struggles for equality in India continuously refer to the Indian Constitution to make their point about equality and justice for all. The dignity and self-respect of each person and their community can only be realized if they are not discriminated against and treated equally.

In 1994, the government gave the rights for fishing in the Tawa reservoir to private contractors. The contractors began to threaten the villagers to leave the village, as they got cheap labour from outside. The newly formed Tawa Matsya Sangh organised rallies and a chakka jam demanding their rights to continue fishing in Tawa reservoir for their livelihood.

Right to Equality refers to the equality in the eyes of law, discarding any unfairness on grounds of caste, race, religion, place of birth sex. It also includes equality of prospects in matters of employment, the abolition of untouchability and abolition of titles. This fundamental right is also the major foundation of all other rights and privileges granted to Indian citizens.

The Indian constitution has established a welfare state meaning the state is placed in the position of guardian to the people. Thus the state has some obligations to fulfill to maintain the standard and quality lives of its citizens. The state is empowered to take positive actions to uplift the socially disadvantaged groups by enacting positive discrimination that ensures equality and at the same time does not dent the right to others. The reservation system for socially and educationally backward classes in schools and college admissions and to secure entry in jobs has the same rationale that is to provide adequate and equal representation of backward classes that have no means to secure themselves such position.

The Indian Constitution is called a living document because it can be amended or changed. Our Constitution accepts the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society. Secondly, in the actual working of the Constitution, there has been enough flexibility of interpretations. The Constitution is an instrument that societies create for themselves.Thus, both political practice and judicial rulings have shown maturity and flexibility in implementing the Constitution.

The right of Social Equality and Equal Access to Public Areas is clearly mentioned under the Article 15 of the Constitution of India stating that no person shall be shown favouritism on the basis of colour, caste, creed language, etc. Every person shall have equal admittance to public places like public wells, bathing ghats, museums, temples etc.

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly was the main body responsible for drafting the constitution of India that would lay the basis of governance. The Constitution lays down the foundations of the government under which the people of the country are to be governed. The Indian constitution has 25 parts, 12 schedules, and 448 articles, thus, making it the longest constitution ever drafted in the history of mankind.

Amending the Constitution of India is the process of making changes to the nation's fundamental law or supreme law. The procedure of amendment in the constitution is laid down in Part XX (Article 368) of the Constitution of India.

An amendment of the Constitution can be initiated only by the introduction of a Bill in either House of Parliament. The Bill must then be passed in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting.

The constitution of India is a living document meaningly it is amenable to changes and requires amendment as per the time, necessities and social and cultural necessities. The makers of constitution have understood this necessity and provide for amendment in the provisions of constitution itself. The first amendment was made within one year of coming it in force I.e., in 1951 and so far 101 amendments have been made till date. The philosophy of Indian constution is reflected in its preamble which express the hopes and aspirations of people.

The Constitution entails hopes and aspirations of people. It is the source of rights and duties of the citizens and structure of the nation. The constitution should be made amenable to change so as it can be amended from time to time to meet requirement of changing society and civilisation as they develop. The rigidity in the constitution will only defeats the purpose of the constitution as outdated laws or provision can no longer hold good in the society.

The constitution of India is a living document meaning it is amenable to changes and requires amendment as per the time, necessities and social and cultural necessities. The makers of constitution have understood this necessity and provide for amendment in the provisions of constitution itself. The first amendment was made within one year of coming into force i.e., in 1951. The philosophy of Indian constitution is reflected in its preamble which express the hopes and aspirations of people.

The Tawa dam began to be built in the year 1958 and was completed in the year 1978. It submerged a large area of forest and agricultural land.

The Basic Structure theory is judicial innovation. The constitution itself has made judiciary the guarantor and defender of the constitution so the onus is upon judiciary to protect the constitution from being violated in its entirety. The Part III of the constitution is of utmost importance as it contains the fundamental rights of the citizens guaranteed against the State. Thus, the judiciary has placed restriction in the spirit of the constitution that state cannot make any law which has tendency to abridge fundamental rights of the citizens and any such law made shall be void. Apart from fundamental rights there are numerous other things which have been incorporated in the basic structure. 

Fraternity means the sense or spirit of brotherhood that promotes unity and integrity in the nation and binds its people. Fraternity stands for standing up for fellow citizens and to resolve dispute and conflicts in well behaved and orderly manner that would not harm the integrity of the nation.