Confronting Marginalisation - Class 8 Civics - Extra Questions

Why do Adivasi activists, including C.K. Janu, believe that Adivasis can also use this 1989 Act to fight against dispossession? Is there anything specific in the provisions of the Act that allows her to believe this?

The Adivasi activists including C.K. Janu believe that Adivasis can also use this 1989 Act to fight against dispossession because this Act guarantees the tribals not to be dispossessed from the land resources forcibly. They pointed specifically that this Act merely confirms what has already been promised to the tribal people in the Constitution - that their land can not be sold to or bought by non-tribal people. In cases where this has happened, the constitution also guarantees the right of the tribal people to repossess their land.



Mention the important provisions made to safeguard the rights of SC and ST.

The provisions made to safeguard the rights of SC and ST are as below:
-SC/ ST Commission was set up.
-Reserved some seats in State Assembly and Lok Sabha.
-Percentage of seats were reserved in State & Central Government.
-Some constituencies were declared reserved.


List two Fundamental Rights in the Constitution that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they be treated with dignity and as equals. Re-read the Fundamental Rights listed on page 14 to help you answer this question.

Two Fundamental Rights that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they be treated with dignity as equals can be as follows:

  1. Right to Equality
  2. Right Against Exploitation



Explain the constitutional and legal measures undertaken to eradicate untouchability.

Constitutional measures:
  1. Article 15- Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
  2. Article 16-Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
  3. Article 17- Abolition of Untouchability.

Legal Measures:
  • The Untouchability Offences Act, 1955- Among other things it provides penalties for Preventing a person on the ground of untouchability from entering a place of public worship, offering prayers therein or taking water from a sacred tank, well or spring.
  • The Untouchability Offence Act, 1955 has been replaced by the Protection of the Civil Rights Act after amendment on 1976. It had proposed stringent measures against those who still practice untouchability.


Re-read the story on Rathnam as well as the provisions of the 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Now list one reason why you think he used this law to file a complaint.

The 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was formed in response to the demands made by Dalits and others that the Government take seriously to protect them against the ill-treatment and humiliation faced by Dalits and tribal groups in their everyday life. Rathnam’s hut was burnt and he was forced to leave the village along with his mother and other members of his family as they continued to be ostracised by the powerful castes in the village.
So Rathnam used the above law to file a complaint to protest against the domination and violence of the powerful castes in his village.



Who removed untouchability in India ?

The 1950 national constitution of India legally abolished the practice of untouchability and provided measures for positive discrimination in both educational institution and public services for Dalits and other social groups who lie within the caste system. 


Write a note on untouchability.

Untouchability mean refusal to touch people belonging to certain castes. It refers to any belief or social practice which looks down upon people on account of their birth with certain caste labels. 
Such practice denies them interaction with others or access to public places as equal citizens. So the Constitution made untouchability a punishable offence under article 17 of the Indian Constitution. 


Answer the following questions in six sentences each:
Explain the constitutional and legal measures undertaken to eradicate untouchability.

The following are some constitutional and legal measures undertaken to eradicate untouchability in India;
  • The Article 17 of the Indian Constitution prohibits Untouchability. The government of India has implemented ‘Untouchability Crime Act’ in 1955. ‘Civil Rights Protection Act’ was implemented in 1976 with necessary changes to the act of 1955. According to this act, practicing untouchability is a crime.
  • Universal rights to vote and participate in the election has also been provided. Moreover, the reservation has been given in the field of education and employment for Scheduled Castes and Tribes scheduled along with backward classes. 
  • The Act of 1989 has given some specific responsibilities for the governments in the eradication of Untouchability. Like this, Independent India has taken special interest in providing equality to all.


The poems and the song in this Unit allow you to see the range of ways in which individuals and communities express their opinions, their anger and their sorrow. In class, do the following two exercises:
(a) Bring to class a poem that discusses a social issue. Share this with your classmates. Work in small groups with two or more poems to discuss their meaning as well as what the poet is trying to communicate.
(b) Identify a marginalised community in your locality. Write a poem, or song, or draw a poster etc to express your feelings as a member of this community.

Do it yourself.


What are the legal measures undertaken to check untouchability?

Indian law does not permit the practice of untouchability. Article 17 of the Constitution of India bans the practice. The enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability is an offence punishable in accordance with law. The directive principles of the state policy laid down in the Constitution of India also categorically rule against untouchability. The government of India has passed the Untouchability Act, 1955, to eliminate any form of caste-based discrimination. To eradicate the caste-based discrimination, the government introduced the reservation system, meaning that it has reserved seats in educational institutes and government services for Dalits.


Class 8 Civics Extra Questions