Class 8 Social Science Notes Chapter 7 (Understanding Marginalisation) – Social and Political Life Book

Alright class, let's delve into Chapter 7, 'Understanding Marginalisation'. This is a crucial topic, not just for your exams but also for understanding the social fabric of our country. Pay close attention as we break down the key concepts.

Understanding Marginalisation: Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. What is Marginalisation?

• Definition: Marginalisation means being pushed to the edge or fringe of society, treated as less important than others. Marginalised groups or individuals have limited access to resources, opportunities, power, and social standing.
• Experience: It involves feeling excluded, powerless, and discriminated against. It's not just about poverty but also about social, cultural, and political exclusion.
• Causes: Marginalisation can stem from various factors including:
  • Different language or customs.
  • Belonging to a different religious group than the majority.
  • Being poor.
  • Low social status (like caste).
  • A combination of these factors (intersectionality).

2. Who are the Marginalised? (Focus of the Chapter)
The chapter primarily focuses on two major groups experiencing marginalisation in India:

• Adivasis (Tribal Communities/Indigenous Peoples)
• Minority Communities (specifically Muslims, using the Sachar Committee Report)

3. Adivasis and Marginalisation

• Who are Adivasis?
  • Literally means 'original inhabitants'.
  • Communities deeply connected to forests; traditionally lived in or near forests.
  • Not a homogenous group; over 500 different Adivasi groups in India.
  • Often have distinct languages, religions (worship of ancestors, village/nature spirits), and cultural practices, different from mainstream Hinduism/Islam/Christianity.
• Stereotyping Adivasis:
  • Often portrayed in stereotypical ways: exotic, primitive, backward, resistant to change, colourful costumes, headgear, dancing.
  • Such stereotypes lead to discrimination and misunderstanding.
• Adivasis and Development:
  • Loss of Forests: Historically, Adivasis had deep knowledge and control over forest lands. Post-independence, forests were exploited for timber, minerals, industrial projects (dams, factories, mines).
  • Displacement: Large tracts of tribal lands were taken over for mining, industrial projects, and wildlife sanctuaries. This led to massive displacement of Adivasi populations.
    • Key Stat (Example): Over 50% of persons displaced due to mines and mining projects are Tribals.
  • Loss of Livelihood: Displacement meant losing main sources of livelihood (forest produce, traditional agriculture) and often traditional homelands.
  • Migration: Forced to migrate to cities/towns in search of work, often low-wage labour in construction or domestic work.
• Consequences of Marginalisation for Adivasis:
  • Poverty and deprivation.
  • Loss of traditions, customs, and languages.
  • Poor health indicators and low literacy rates.
  • Caught in cycles of debt and exploitation.

4. Minorities and Marginalisation

• What is a Minority?
  • Refers to communities numerically small in relation to the rest of the population.
  • However, the concept goes beyond numbers; it involves issues of power, access to resources, and decision-making.
  • The Constitution recognizes the vulnerability of minorities and provides safeguards.
• Muslims and Marginalisation:
  • The chapter uses the example of the Muslim community to illustrate minority marginalisation.
  • Sachar Committee Report (2005): This high-level committee, chaired by Justice Rajindar Sachar, was set up to examine the social, economic, and educational status of the Muslim community in India. Its findings highlighted significant marginalisation:
    • Economic & Social Indicators: Compared to other communities, Muslims lagged behind in terms of literacy rates, access to basic amenities (pucca houses, electricity, piped water), Mean Years of Schooling, and presence in government jobs (IAS, IPS, PSU).
    • Poverty: Higher incidence of poverty among Muslims.
    • Access to Credit: Lower access to bank credit.
    • Practices & Customs: Some customs and practices of Muslims are distinct from the mainstream, sometimes leading to prejudice.
  • Reasons cited: Lack of access to education and government jobs, discrimination, socio-economic backwardness, feelings of insecurity leading to 'ghettoisation' (living clustered together).
  • Ghettoisation: The tendency for members of a particular group to live in the same area, often due to shared identity but also driven by fear, hostility, and discrimination experienced elsewhere.

5. Confronting Marginalisation

• The Role of the Constitution:
  • Provides safeguards to protect marginalised communities.
  • Guarantees Fundamental Rights to all citizens, including:
    • Right to Equality (Article 14-18): Prohibits discrimination.
    • Right against Exploitation (Article 23-24).
    • Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29-30): Protects the rights of minorities to conserve their distinct language, script, and culture, and to establish their own educational institutions.
• Laws and Policies:
  • Governments enact specific laws and policies to address the disadvantages faced by marginalised groups (e.g., reservation policies for SCs, STs, OBCs; specific schemes for minority welfare; laws protecting tribal land rights like the Forest Rights Act 2006 - though details might be in later chapters, context is important).
• Assertion by Marginalised Groups: Marginalised communities themselves actively challenge their exclusion and discrimination by asserting their rights, organising movements, and demanding justice.

Conclusion:
Marginalisation is a complex phenomenon where certain groups are systematically disadvantaged due to social prejudice, economic factors, and historical processes. Understanding this process, particularly concerning Adivasis and minorities like Muslims, is vital. The Indian Constitution provides a framework to combat marginalisation and ensure justice and equality for all citizens.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does the term 'marginalisation' primarily refer to?
   a) Being wealthy and powerful.
   b) Being pushed to the fringe or edge of society.
   c) Living in the geographical centre of a country.
   d) Belonging to the majority religious group.
   Answer: b)

2. The term 'Adivasi' literally means:
   a) Forest dwellers
   b) Original inhabitants
   c) Backward people
   d) Nomadic tribes
   Answer: b)

3. Which of the following is a common stereotype associated with Adivasis?
   a) Highly educated and technologically advanced.
   b) Resistant to change, exotic, and primitive.
   c) Primarily involved in international trade.
   d) Living exclusively in urban centres.
   Answer: b)

4. According to the chapter, a major reason for the displacement of Adivasis from their traditional lands is:
   a) Voluntary migration for better jobs.
   b) Government schemes for urban housing.
   c) Establishment of national parks, mining projects, and industries.
   d) Natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.
   Answer: c)

5. The concept of a 'minority' in the context of marginalisation primarily refers to:
   a) Only religious groups.
   b) Communities that are numerically smaller and may lack power or resources.
   c) People who are physically shorter than average.
   d) Groups that speak rare languages.
   Answer: b) (Correction: Option b is the most accurate description in the context of the chapter)

6. The Sachar Committee Report (2005) was commissioned to study the status of which community in India?
   a) Scheduled Castes (Dalits)
   b) Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes)
   c) The Muslim community
   d) Anglo-Indians
   Answer: c)

7. According to the Sachar Committee Report, the Muslim community lagged behind other communities in which area(s)?
   a) Literacy rates
   b) Access to government jobs
   c) Access to basic amenities like electricity and piped water
   d) All of the above
   Answer: d)

8. The term 'ghettoisation' refers to:
   a) The process of converting forests into agricultural land.
   b) The tendency of a community to live clustered together, often due to insecurity or discrimination.
   c) A government policy for promoting tribal art.
   d) The preservation of ancient monuments.
   Answer: b)

9. Which part of the Indian Constitution provides safeguards against discrimination and protects the rights of minorities?
   a) The Preamble
   b) Fundamental Rights (Part III)
   c) Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)
   d) Fundamental Duties (Part IVA)
   Answer: b)

10. Confronting marginalisation involves:
    a) Only government action through laws and policies.
    b) Only actions taken by the marginalised communities themselves.
    c) A combination of constitutional safeguards, laws, policies, and assertion by marginalised groups.
    d) Ignoring the issue as it resolves itself over time.
    Answer: c)

Study these notes carefully and practice the MCQs. Understanding the nuances of marginalisation is key! Good luck with your preparation.