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 in society. The government has to provide free education and integrate children with disabilities into mainstream schools. This law also states that all public places including buildings, school etc., should
be accessible and provided with ramps. Look at the photograph and think about the boy who is being carried down the stairs. Do you think the above law is being implemented in his case? What needs to be done to make the building and accessible for him? How would his being carried down the stairs affect his dignity as well as his safety?
The boy in the photograph is disabled. As per the law the building should have been available for him. But we see the law is not being applied in his case. He is taken down by security personnels via stairs. This building does not have ramps. The boy’s dignity is ignored here. He may just feel lesser. The way he is taken down may prove dangerous. This case should be taken to the court by law.
Re-read the box on Article 15 and state two ways in which this Article addresses inequality?
What do you understand by the term “all persons are equal before the law”? Why do you think it is important in a democracy?
In what ways was Omprakash Valmikis experience similar to that of the Ansaris?
What made Swapna sell the cotton to the trader instead of selling at the Kurnool cotton market?
In this chapter you have read that health is a wider concept than illness. Look at this quote from the Constitution and explain the terms ‘living standard’ and ‘public health’ in your own words. An important part 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. ”
Use the terms ‘constituency’ and ‘represent’ to explain who an MLA is and how is the person elected?
Are the statements given below 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 distinctions 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.
How do you think stereotypes about what women can or cannot do, affect women’s right to equality?
In what ways does media play an important role in a democracy?
In what ways is a hawker different from a shop owner?
What do you understand by the word brand? List two reasons why building brands is central to advertising?
Describe the conditions of employment as well as the wages of workers in the garment exporting factory. Do you think the workers get a fair deal?
What are the different ways through which the government can take steps to provide healthcare for all? Discuss.
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.
Think of something common that we use. It could besugar, tea, milk, pen, paper, pencil, etc. Discuss through what chain of markets this reaches you. Can you think of the people that help in the production or trade?
Why should decisions are taken by the Chief Minister and other ministers be debated in the Legislative Assembly?
What was the problem in Patalpuram? What discussion/actions were taken by the following? Pill in the table.
What is the difference between the work that MLAs do in the Assembly and the work done by government departments?
How did some MLAs become Ministers? Explain.
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?
“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.
In what ways does media play an important role in a democracy?
List one reason why learning the alphabet was so important to women like Rashsundari Devi, Ramabai, and Rokeya.