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Class 8 - Confronting Marginalisation (Notes)

Marginalisation in India affects groups like Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and women, leading to exclusion from resources and opportunities. The Indian Constitution and various laws aim to empower these groups and combat inequality, while case studies illustrate their struggles and resistance. Despite legal frameworks, challenges such as societal resistance and limited enforcement hinder the realization of equality and justice.

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6 views

Class 8 - Confronting Marginalisation (Notes)

Marginalisation in India affects groups like Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and women, leading to exclusion from resources and opportunities. The Indian Constitution and various laws aim to empower these groups and combat inequality, while case studies illustrate their struggles and resistance. Despite legal frameworks, challenges such as societal resistance and limited enforcement hinder the realization of equality and justice.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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CLASS 8 - CIVICS

CONFRONTING MARGINALISATION
Understanding Marginalisation
Marginalisation refers to the exclusion of certain groups from resources,
opportunities, and social acceptance due to societal structures or
prejudices. In India, groups such as Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and women face
significant marginalisation.
• Key Strategies of Marginalised Groups:
o Seeking religious solace.
o Engaging in armed struggle.
o Pursuing education and economic upliftment.
o Invoking the Constitution and laws to protect their rights.

The Role of the Indian Constitution


The Constitution of India provides tools for marginalised groups to challenge
inequality and demand justice.
Fundamental Rights:
1. Article 17: Abolishes untouchability.
o Prevents discrimination in education, temples, and public facilities.
o Declares untouchability a punishable crime.
2. Article 15: Prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or
place of birth.
o Used by Dalits to demand equality.
3. Cultural and Educational Rights:
o Protects cultural identity and educational autonomy for minority
groups like Muslims and Parsis.
o Ensures cultural justice by safeguarding against the dominance of
the majority.
Government Laws and Policies
To address marginalisation, the government has enacted laws and policies
targeting social justice.
Laws for Marginalised Groups:
1. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
1989:
o Punishes acts of humiliation, violence, and dispossession against
Dalits and Adivasis.
o Recognizes crimes specific to Dalit and Adivasi women.
2. Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition)
Act, 1993:
o Prohibits manual scavenging and the construction of dry latrines.
o Advocates for the liberation and rehabilitation of manual
scavengers.
3. Forest Rights Act, 2006:
o Restores the rights of Adivasis and other forest dwellers to land and
forest resources.
o Aims to undo historical injustices and conserve biodiversity.

Policies for Social Justice:


1. Reservation Policy:
o Reserves seats in education and government jobs for Scheduled
Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other backward classes
(OBCs).
o Addresses historical denial of opportunities.
2. Support Schemes:
o Scholarships for Dalit and Adivasi students.
o Free or subsidized hostels for students in tribal and Dalit areas.
o Special schemes for the education of girls.
Case Studies and Stories of Resistance
1. Rathnam’s Story:
o Incident: Rathnam, a Dalit engineering student, refused to perform
a caste-based ritual, facing ostracism and violence.
o Legal Action: Filed a complaint under the 1989 Act to challenge
caste-based oppression.
o Outcome: Brought attention to the role of education and laws in
empowerment.
2. Manual Scavenging:
o Definition: The practice of cleaning human waste manually, often by
Dalit women.
o Issues: Leads to severe health risks and low wages.
o Legal Steps: The 1993 Act bans the practice; the 2013 Act enforces
rehabilitation and liberation.
3. Adivasi Land Rights:
o Adivasis demand the return of traditional lands and compensation
for displacement.
o Activists like C.K. Janu highlight violations of constitutional
promises by governments and corporations.

The Role of Art and Literature


1. Soyrabai’s Poem:
o Challenges the caste system’s notion of purity and pollution.
o Argues that all human beings are equal, as everyone is born the
same way.
2. Kabir’s Poems:
o Criticizes caste hierarchies and religious orthodoxy.
o Advocates for spiritual equality and the dignity of labour.
o Emphasizes that untouchability should represent freedom from
ignorance and narrow ideas.
Challenges in Implementation
1. Resistance from Society:
o Social hierarchies resist changes brought by laws and policies.
o Fear of retaliation often prevents marginalised groups from
asserting their rights.
2. Limited Enforcement:
o Laws often remain unimplemented due to lack of awareness,
societal prejudice, and bureaucratic inefficiency.
3. Continuous Struggles:
o Marginalised communities must consistently fight for equality,
dignity, and justice despite constitutional guarantees.

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