On Equality

Q17. What does the civil rights act of 1964 state?

Ans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion or national origin. It also stated that all schools would be open to African–American children and that they would no longer have to attend separate schools specially set up for them.

Q18. In a democracy why is universal adult franchise important?

Ans. Universal adult franchise and is an essential aspect of all democracies. The idea of universal adult franchise is based on the idea of equality because it states that every adult in a country, irrespective of their wealth and the communities she/he belongs to, has one vote.

Q19. How African–Americans were treated prior to movement in the late 1950s to push for equal rights for African– Americans?

Ans. Prior to movement, African–Americans were treated extremely unequally in the United States and denied equality through law. For example, when travelling by bus, they either had to sit at the back of the bus or get up from their seat whenever a white person wished to sit.

Q20. How did B.R. Ambedkar view self-respect?

Ans. According to him, “It is disgraceful to live at the cost of one's self-respect. Self-respect is the most vital factor in life. Without it, man is a cipher. To live worthily with self-respect, one has to overcome difficulties. It is out of hard and ceaseless struggle alone that one derives strength, confidence and recognition.”

Q21. What was Civil Rights Movement?

Ans. Rosa Parks was an African–American woman. Tired from a long day at work she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man on 1 December 1955. Her refusal that day started a huge agitation against the unequal ways in which African–Americans were treated and which came to be known as the Civil Rights Movement.

Q22. In what ways was Omprakash Valmiki’s experience similar to that of the Ansaris?

Ans. Omprakash Valmiki and the Ansaris are being treated unequally on the basis of differences of caste and religion. The dignity of both Omprakash Valmiki and the Ansaris was violated because of the way in which they were treated. Omprakash had to sit away from the others in the class, and was made to sweep the school and the playground. On the other hand people refused to lease their apartments to Mr and Mrs Ansari.

Q23. What is a disability act passed in 1995?

Ans. The Government of India passed the Disabilities Act in 1995. This law states that persons with disabilities have equal rights, and that the government should make possible their full participation in society. The government has to provide free education and integrate children with disabilities into mainstream schools. This law also states that all public places including buildings, schools, etc., should be accessible and provided with ramps.

Q24. List three benefits of the midday meal programme.

Ans. Benefits of the midday meal programme are:

                       i.        More poor children have begun enrolling and regularly attending school.

                      ii.        Has also helped reduce caste prejudices because both lower and upper caste children in the school eat this meal together, and in quite a few places,     Dalit women have been employed to cook the meal.

                     iii.        The midday meal programme also helps reduce the hunger of poor students who often come to school and cannot concentrate because their stomachs are empty.

Q25. Establishing equality in a democratic society is a continuous struggle. Comment

Ans. One of the main reasons for this is that attitudes change very slowly. Even though persons are aware that discrimination is against the law they continue to treat people unequally on the basis of their caste, religion, disability, economic status and because they are women. It is only when people begin to believe that no one is inferior, and that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, that present attitudes can change. Change in attitude is a slow process and hence establishing equality in a democratic society is a continuous struggle.

Q26. What are the provisions made in the constitution for the recognition of equality?

Ans. Provisions made in the constitution for the recognition of equality are as follows:

                       i.        Every person, from the President of the country to Kanta, a domestic worker, has to obey the same laws.

                      ii.        No person can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion, race, caste, place of birth or whether they are female or male.

                     iii.        Every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops and markets. All persons can use publicly available wells, roads and bathing ghats.

                     iv.        Untouchability has been abolished.

Q27. Re-read the box on Article 15 and state two ways in which this Article addresses inequality?

Ans. Article 15 addresses inequality in the following ways:

(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to –

      a.   access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment;

  Or

      b.   the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.

Q28. What do you understand by the term “all persons are equal before the law”? Why do you think it is important in a democracy?

Ans. All persons are equal before the law means:

                       i.        Every person, from the President of the country to Kanta, a domestic worker, has to obey the same laws.

                      ii.        No person can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion, race, caste, place of birth or whether they are female or male.

                     iii.        Every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops and markets. All persons can use publicly available wells, roads and bathing ghats.

                     iv.        Untouchability has been abolished.

Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their representative by voting them in the elections. Therefore, a true democracy should provide equality of opportunity so that everyone has an equal chance. If inequality on the basis of religion, race, caste and place of birth continue to exist, democracy would never flourish.