Sometimes people make prejudiced comments in our presence. We are often not in a position to do anything about this because it is difficult to say something right then and there. Divide the class into groups and each group discuss what they could do in one of the following situations:
a. A friend begins to tease a classmate because he is poor.
b. You are watching TV with your family and one of them makes a prejudicial comment about a particular religious community.
c. Children in your class refuse to share their food with a particular person because they think she is dirty.
d. Someone tells you a joke that makes fun of a community because of their accent.
e. Some boys make remarks about girls not being able to play games as well as them. Discuss in class what the different groups have suggested for the above situations, and also talk about the problems that can come up when raising the issue.
(a) When a friend begin to tease a classmate because of his poorty then I will ask him/ her not to tease him. And, I will try to make my friend understand that every person is equal and we should not discriminate anyone or create any type of issue about their poorty. Instead of teasing him, we should help him and treat him equally like others. I will support the classmate and try to explain my friend that he/ she should support him, help him in studies and to encourage him. If he/she will tease him in any way then he will feel lack of confidence. I will make sure that from my words, no one get hurts neither my friend or nor my classmates. I would just try to make them understand that every person should be treated equally.
(b) If my family members make prejudicial comment about a particular religious community then I will stop them and will tell them that creating prejudice against any religion is insult of that religious community. Every religious community will only respect our religion when we will respect and support their religious community.
(c) If children of my class refuse to share their food with a particular person because of her dirtiness then, firstly I will share my food to her. And, then I will make them to say sorry to her and I will tell my classmates that no one is dirty. If someone is dirty, so that is you and your thinking.
(d) If someone makes fun of any community on the basis of their accent then, I will stop him/ her and tell them that every region has their own language and making fun of their language is equal to making fun of them and their region too. We should not make fun of any language and should always respect every language.
(e) If someone makes remarks that girls do not have capability to play with boys then I will make them understand that girls are not weak and can play with boys as well. And, I will ask them not to discriminate anyone on the basis of their gender. Everyone should have given equal rights and opportunities and the girls have equal rights to play with boys.
What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?
How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least five different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house.
Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes.
a. Two surgeons were sitting down to lunch when one of them made a call on the mobile phone |
1. suffers from chronic asthma. |
b. The boy who won the drawing competition went to the dias |
2. to become an astronaut which she did. |
c. One of the fastest athletes in the world |
3. to speak with her daughter who had just returned from school. |
d. She was not that well-off but had a dream |
4. on a wheelchair to collect his prize. |
How would Maya's life be different in South Africa today?
What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem?
Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
What is the work of the police?
Look at the statements in the column on the left. Can you identify which level they belong to? Place tick marks against the level you consider most appropriate.
Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala's house?
You have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. List five of these.
Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk.
Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accommodation and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need.
Source: Aman Sethi, Hindu On-line
What are the various ways in which people participate in the process of government?
What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?
Fill in the following table to show the services provided by people in the markets which you visit frequently.
Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table:
What issue is the poem trying to raise? Do you think this is an important issue? Why?
Take an example of any one task done by a Panchayat in your area/nearby rural area and find out the following:
a. Why it was taken up.
b. Where the money came from.
c. Whether or not the work has been completed.
How do women benefit under the new law?
Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
Read the following news item.
Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villagers depend on tankers for all their needs. Bhagvan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, iron rods and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nimone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for the lower castes.
Adapted from Indian Express, May 1, 2004
a. Why was Bhagvan beaten?
b. Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why?
Find out more about watershed development and how it benefits an area?
Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How?