Social Problems of India and Challenges Class 10 GSEB Solutions Social Science Chapter 20

Gujarat Board Class 10 Social Science Social Problems of India and Challenges Textbook Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in detail.
Question 1. Give an introduction of constitutional provisions for welfare and development of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
Answer:
The Constitution-makers were aware of the fact that the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes were the weaker sections of the Indian society. The following constitutional steps have been taken for the welfare and development of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST):

1. Article 15 has provided access to all public places to the SC and the ST.
2. Article 16(4) empowers the state to make reservation in the government services for the SC and the ST.
3. Article 17 has abolished the practice . of untouchability and prohibited its
   practice in any form.
4. Article 46 directs the state to protect the SC and the ST from exploitation and to look after their educational, social and economic welfare.
5. Articles 330, 332 and 334 provide reservation of seats for the SC and the ST in proportion to their population in the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabhas of the States.
6. There is reservation of seats for the SC and the ST in the rural and urban local governments.
7. Article 19(5) has given power to the state to restrict the movement and right to settle down in the tribal areas to protect the interests of the Scheduled Tribes.
8. The Constitution has set up the National Scheduled Castes Commission as well as the Scheduled Tribes Commission to protect interests and their rights as well as promote welfare and development of the SC and the ST.

(Please note that the Question is on constitutional provision – the textbook has mixed up constitutional provisions, legal provisions and welfare programmes. The above given answer is (As per the requirement of the question).

Question 2.
State the social effects of terrorism.
Answer:
The social effects of terrorism are as follows:

1. Terrorism creates feeling of fear and anxiety among the people. They become suspicious of the sections of people that indulge in the anti-social activities like looting and robbery, stabbing and other violent acts.
2. The effects of terrorism are felt by people of all age groups. Parents are worried about their children, wives are worried about their office-going husbands and children Eire worried about their elderly parents.
3. It has adverse effect on education in the areas affected by terrorism, like Jammu and Kashmir.
4. There is atmosphere of de§truct, mutual suspicious which destroys social harmony and feeling of brotherhood among the people.
5. It creates social tension and communal conflicts. That results in chaos and uncertainty which shatters normal day-to-day life of the people cannot celebrate social occasions with festivity.
6. It results first in social disintegration and later threatens national integration.

II. Answer the following questions in point-wise.

Question 1.
State the steps which should be taken to eradicate communalism.
Answer:
Communalism is a hindrance to the progress of individual, society and nation. The first step in this direction was taken by the Constitution makers themselves. They declared India as a secular state and provided the right to freedom of religion to the citizens of India. Besides these, the following steps should be taken to eradicate communalism:

• The government should take punitive action against those who indulge in communal activities.
• Education plays a big role in promoting communal harmony. The prayers of all religions should be sung at the School Assembly. Religions festivals of all the religions should be celebrated so that at a very young age children develop respect for other religions.
• The Election Commission should not recognize communal parties. Strict code of conduct should be enforced to check communal propaganda.
• Message of secularism and religious tolerance should be spread across the country through radio, television and cinema. Special attention should be paid to those programs that promote nationalism and national integration.
• The leaders of political parties, along with the heads of the various sects, should work to combat communalism.
• Special efforts should be made to inculcate secular and scientific attitude among the youth. For this purpose government should take help of civil society organizations.
• People should be made to realize that national interest is above religions. They should rise above narrow communal interests, strive for national integration and nurture nationalism.

Question 2. Give an introduction of constitutional provisions for welfare and development of minorities.
Answer:
The term minorities imply the religions minorities that include the Muslims, the Christians and the Zoroastrians. After the linguistic reorganization of the states, every state has some linguistic minorities. For example, the Gujaratis are linguistic minority in Maharashtra. The Indian Constitution has made the following provisions for the welfare and development of religious and linguistic minorities:

• The Preamble declares India as a secular state, implying that there is no official religion of the state. It also promises social justice, equality of status and equality of opportunities to all citizens.
• Right to equality in the Articles 14 to 18 further elaborates that the state shall not discriminate in the matter of public employment and access to public places between the citizens on the basis of religion, caste, race, language, gender or place of birth. It also provide protection of law to every citizen.
• The right to freedom of religion in Article 24 enables the persons belonging to minorities to profess and practise their religion, establish institutions and collect funds for their religious activities.
• No religious instructions can be imparted in the education institutions that receive financial help (grants) from the state.
• Article 29 provides educational and cultural rights to religious, linguistic and cultural minorities to preserve their language, script and culture.
• Article 30 provides them the right to establish ‘minority’ educational institutions.
• Right to education provides right to free and compulsory education to children in the age group of 6 to 14 years.
• The Constitution has set up the National Minorities Commission to protect the interests and rights as well as to look after the welfare and development of minorities.

Question 3. State the economic effects of terrorism.
Answer:
The economic effects of terrorism are disastrous for individual, trade and commerce and national economy as a whole. These can be listed as under:

• Terrorist acts destroy the houses and property of individuals. The families of persons killed/injured during the terrorist violence suffer for the whole lifetime.
• Terrorist acts disrupt normal trade and business which results in loss of income.
• In terrorism infested states like Jammu and Kashmir, businessmen migrate to the other parts of the country.
• Tourism industry has suffered a great deal in Jammu and Kashmir due to continuous terrorism. In fact, a number of countries have issued advisory to their citizens not to travel to India.
• Industrialists, businessmen and their children are kidnapped by the terrorists also extort money from business and industries.
• Manufacturing activities along down of completely stop when industrial establishments are attacked by the terrorists.
• The railway lines, radio stations, roads, bridge and the government offices are destroyed. Crores of rupees are spent on reconstruction. In addition, the transport activities are disrupted. Besides this, the government has to spend crores of rupees for the safety and protection of these public premises.
• Terrorist organizations indulge in drug trafficking and black marketing to raise funds for their acts of violence.
• The overall effect is harmful for national economy as the process of economic development slows down.

III. Answer the following questions in brief.
Question 1. Explain the difference between rebellions and terrorism.
Answer:
Difference between rebellions and terrorism:

• The dividing line between rebellion (insurgency) and terrorism is very thin. The acts of terrorism in Kashmir is a form of insurgency. A section of the terrorists favour ‘Azad Kashmir, whereas Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organizations seek to make Kashmir a part of Pakistan.
• In a limited sense, insurgency is a domestic national problem; whereas terrorism has become a domestic as well as a global problem.
• Insurgency is defiance of the sovereign authority of one’s own country and
• Seeking independence by secession. Terrorism is an instrument used by the insurgent organizations.
• On the other hand, terrorism, per say, is directed against ‘enemy’ country and to destroy its major installations and international prestige.
• Insurgency is a local movement and has the support of the local people. The terrorist organizations, operating in a foreign land, may or may not have local support. However, the quantum of local support is insignificant. Only a handful misguided persons are acting against their own country.
• Both insurgency and terrorism are destructive forces and adversely affect the national economy of the subject country and hinder its economic development.

Question 2. Write a note on the Naxalism.
Answer:
Naxalite movement emerged in the Naxalbari region in West Bengal in 1967 as an armed protest against the atrocities committed by Zamindars. It was inspired by the Communist Revolution in China led by Mao-tse- Tung. Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal were the founders of the Naxalite movement. The Naxalites resort to all forms of violence that includes bomb explosions, attack on the militaiy personnel and government buildings, kidnapping of the public, officials and extortion. They forcefully collect money and food-grains from the people in Their territory’.

• Initially exploited peasants and landless workers willingly supported the Naxalites. However, over a period of time popular support has declined due to indiscriminate violence and exploitation of people.
• This movement has spread over 13 states. The most affected states are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• People’s War Group (PWG) and Maoist Comunist Centre (MCC) are two major Naxal organizations.
• They represent localized protests against the state government and its police force.

IV. Choose the correct alternative of every question given below.
Question 1. On what is India’s social structure based?
(a) Communalism
(b) Casteism
(c) Language
(d) Groupism
Answer:
(b) Casteism

Question 2. On which basis is the scheduled caste decided?
(a) Untouchability
(b) Religion
(c) Sect
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Untouchability

Question 3. Under which Article of the Constitution untouchability has been eradicated?
(a) Article 25
(b) Article 29
(c) Article 17
(d) Article 46
Answer:
(c) Article 17

Question 4. Which of the following is a global problem?
(a) Casteism
(b) Communalism
(c) Language
(d) Terrorism
Answer:
(c) Language