Longman Panorma Civics Solutions Solutions for Class 7 Social science Chapter 1 Democracy And Equality are provided here with simple step-by-step explanations. These solutions for Democracy And Equality are extremely popular among class 7 students for Social science Democracy And Equality Solutions come handy for quickly completing your homework and preparing for exams. All questions and answers from the Longman Panorma Civics Solutions Book of class 7 Social science Chapter 1 are provided here for you for free. You will also love the ad-free experience on Meritnation’s Longman Panorma Civics Solutions Solutions. All Longman Panorma Civics Solutions Solutions for class 7 Social science are prepared by experts and are 100% accurate.
Page No 8:
Question A.1:
In a democratic country like India equality is at least practised in principle.
Answer:
The statement is true.
Explanation - Equality is the essence of a democratic country like India. The opinions and participation of the people is essential in a democracy. Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits any form of discrimination.Though this is only practised in principle. In reality, inequality among people is prevalent due to various reasons like caste, income and gender.
Page No 8:
Question A.2:
The Dalits have been given equal voting rights in India.
Answer:
The statement is true.
Explanation - Dalits exercise the right of universal adult franchise. Every adult citizen, irrespective of his/her caste, colour and creed, is free to vote in India. This ensures equal political rights for all citizens.
Page No 8:
Question A.3:
No minority in India faces discrimination.
Answer:
The statement is false.
Explanation - Discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, creed and gender is prevalent in India. Minorities, for example, the Dalits, are treated unequally. They are deprived of access to services, employment opportunities and education.
Page No 8:
Question A.4:
Midday mean scheme has brought about a social change.
Answer:
The statement is true.
Explanation - The midday meal scheme, launched in 1995, has brought great changes. The number of students has increased and the enrolment of girls has increased. Children of all backgrounds, castes and religion attend schools and have meals together. People from disadvantaged sections of society have found employment as cooks and assistants under this scheme. This has enhanced the speed in bringing social change.
Page No 8:
Question A.5:
America and Europe treat Asians and Blacks with respect.
Answer:
The statement is false.
Explanation - The Asians and Blacks are treated unequally. They are treated like second-class citizens. The disparity does not cease to exist even today, despite abolishment of slavery and granting of equal political rights to Asians and Blacks.
Page No 8:
Question B.1:
Is universal adult franchise important in a democracy? Why?
Answer:
Yes, universal adult franchise is important in a democracy as it is the essence of a democracy. Under the universal adult franchise, the right to vote is given to every adult citizen of a country, irrespective of their colour, caste, creed, gender or education. In a democracy, equality is necessary, which granted by universal adult franchise. It enables the marginalised and weaker sections of society to become stakeholders in choosing representatives who would work for their betterment and thus, underlines a dynamic polity and society.
Page No 8:
Question B.2:
Why, despite the constitutional provision of free education, are all children not able to gain access to education?
Answer:
Free and compulsory education till the age of 14 has been made mandatory by the constitution of India. However, this is not followed in reality. Discrimination on the basis of caste, gender and income is the cause for denial of the right to education. The minorities and dalits are deprived of education. They are made to feel discriminated and are looked down upon by the upper castes. They have not been allowed to go to the same schools as the children of higher class. Many children dropout of schools because of the discrimination they face. Girls are often not sent to school because they are supposed to help in household chores.
Page No 8:
Question B.3:
Why is there prejudice against the minorities in India?
Answer:
In rural India, the grasp of oppression and prejudice against the minorities is high. They generally face discrimination based on their religion, caste and gender. They are denied access to a number of basic needs such as education, equal employment, equal wages and justice. This prejudice against minorities arises as majorities and upper castes see them as outsiders and test their loyalty to their country time and again. It is further accentuated by limited resources in a large population. In such a scenario, community identity takes precedence over individual rights.
Page No 8:
Question B.4:
Read article 15 of the constitution and highlight its main provision on equality.
Answer:
The Article 15 of the constitution focussed upon the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, race, sex or place of birth. This is the main provision of the article.
It further emphasises upon the following:
1. No citizen can be deprived of access to restaurants, shops, hotels and public places on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
2. No citizen can be prohibited from using wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and public places maintained by state on discriminatory grounds.
3. The state is not prohibited to make special provisions for women, children and socially backward classes like scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Page No 8:
Question B.5:
How has the midday meal served as a means of promoting equality?
Answer:
The mid-day meal scheme, which was initiated on 15th August 1995, has been a means of promoting equality. After the Indian Supreme Court's order on 28th November 2001, government schools have started serving cooked food in all government schools. The enrolment of girls and poor children has risen. Children of both the upper classes and lower classes have the meals together. This reduces the distance between children of different castes. Social changes have also been brought about by this scheme.Women, especially dalit women, and other economically challenged people have been employed as cooks and assistants in the schools. This is an attempt to reduce economic disparity among different sections.
Page No 8:
Question C.1:
Explain with examples the causes of inequality in India.
Answer:
Equality is the essence of a democratic country.However, that is not followed in reality because inequality prevails in India due to various causes. The causes of inequality and their examples are as follows:
1. Differences in incomes - Economic inequality seeps through the society because of disparity in income between different sections. For example, the children of rich people get better educational facilities and are enrolled in private schools. The children of poor people are very often not sent to schools at all because of the expenditure.
2. Discrimination on the basis of castes - People of the lower caste are treated as untouchables by the upper class people. They are known as dalits and are denied basic rights, further restraining their freedom.
For example, dalits cannot go to temples to offer their prayers. This is a restriction that has been imposed on them by the upper classes. Their children are often also not allowed to go to the same schools where children of the upper class go.
3. Discrimination on the basis of sex - Women are denied equal rights as men. The opportunities and benefits granted to men and women are still not equal. For example, a girl is not sent to school because she is supposed to stay at home and do the household chores, whereas a boy of the same age is sent to school and is given an opportunity to earn his living.
Page No 8:
Question C.2:
In what ways are the experiences of African-Americans similar to those of the Dalits.
Answer:
The Americans of African origin are treated as second-class citizens and the scheduled castes or dalits of India and are treated as untouchables. The similarities in the experiences of African-Americans
and dalits are as follows:
1.The African-Americans have long been treated like slaves by the white majority even after the abolition of slavery Similarly, dalits have been discriminated by the upper classes.
2. Both have been victims of segregation. The blacks or the African-Americans are denied access to clubs, cinemas, parks and other places where the white visits in majority. Dalits are not allowed to visit temples and draw water from the same well as the upper classes do.
3. African-Americans and dalits are not allowed to live in the same neighbourhood as the whites and the upper class, respectively.
4. They are denied access to equal opportunities of education, services and justice.
5. Menial jobs are provided to both African-Americans and dalits.
6. A feeling of insecurity exists among African-Americans and dalits because they consistently face discrimination.
Page No 8:
Question C.3:
Is equality a myth or reality? Present your views.
Answer:
Equality is an ideal, which is practised more in principle. While the idea itself is not a myth, its application certainly is. Several laws and policies have been made to ensure equality and many individuals as well as groups have come together to back this struggle for equality. Inequality happens due to a lot of causes like poverty, religious beliefs and differences in castes. Due to inequality, these backward sections of society are being deprived of education, equal work privileges and basic needs.
Free and compulsory education till the age of 14 is necessary in India. This is not being followed due to discrimination based on caste and gender. The most common example of this discrimination is the social inequality wherein dalits and girls are not allowed to go to schools.
The mid-day meal scheme is one such attempt by the government to motivate poverty-stricken children to come to school for education. It breaks caste barriers as the students, of all castes, upper and lower, can have food under this scheme. It is very effective as apart from provides both nourishment and education to the children, it offers employment opportunities to the people of the society in the form of cooks and caretakers.
The disparities have already seeped through the social and economic strata of the country. Although the Article 15 of the Indian Constitution promotes the prevention of such discrimination, it would take time to materialise in reality.
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