NCERT 8th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Untouchability – A Social Evil

Question: Why did the Safai Karamchari Andolan File a PIL in 2003? What did they complain about in their petition?

Answer: The Safai Karamchari Andolan filed a PIL in 2003 in order to get the manual scavenging banned. In their petition they complained that manual scavenging still existed and it continued in government undertaking like the railways. They sought enforcement of their Fundamental Rights.

Question: What did the Supreme Court do on hearing their case in 2005?

Answer: On hearing their case in 2005, the Supreme Court directed every department/ministry of the union government and state governments to verify the facts within six months. If manual scavenging was found to exist, then the government department has to actively take up a time-bound programme for their liberation and rehabilitation.

Question: What does government do to promote social justice among Dalits and Adivasis?

Answer:

1. Both state and central government create specific schemes for implementation in tribal areas or in that have a high Dalit population. For instance, the government provides for free or subsidized hostels for students of Dalit and Adivasi communities so that they can avail of education facilities that are not be available in their localities.
2. Government’s reservation policy is a very significant way to promote social justice among Dalits and Adivasis. Under this policy seats are reserved in education and government’s employment for them.

Question: How does government’s reservation policy work?

Answer: Governments across the country have their own list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and backward and most backward castes. The central government too has its list. Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in government are expected to furnish proof of their caste and tribe certificates. If a particular Dalit caste or a certain tribe is on the government list, then a candidate from that caste or tribe can avail of the benefit of reservation.

Question: How did Kabir look at the division in society in India?

Answer: Kabir strongly criticized caste system in his poetry. He attacked those who attempted to define individuals on the basis of their religious and caste identities. In his view every person had the ability to reach the highest level of spiritual salvation and deep knowledge within themselves through their own experience. His poetry brings out the powerful idea of the equality of all human beings and their labour. He writes about valuing the work of the ordinary potter, the weaver and the woman carrying the water pot-labour that in his poetry becomes the basis of understanding the entire universe.