Understanding Marginalisation

Q1. Name few marginalised groups of India.

Ans. Few marginalised groups of India are the Adivasis, the Muslims and the Dalits.

Q2. What are the consequences of marginalisation?

Ans. Marginalisation results in having a low social status and not having equal access to education and other resources.

Q3. Re-read the section on Minorities and Marginalisation. What do you understand by the term minority?

Ans. A minority is a group of people that differ in some way from the majority of the population.

Q4. Write one reason why you think the Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important?

Ans. The Constitution provides safeguards because it is committed to protecting India’s cultural diversity and promoting equality as well as justice.

Q5. Who headed committee set up by the government to examine the social, economic, and educational status of Muslim community in India?

Ans. Justice Rajindar Sachar headed committee set up by the government to examine the social, economic, and educational status of Muslim community in India.

Q6. How are Adivasis portrayed today?

Ans. Adivasis are invariably portrayed in very stereotypical ways – in colourful costumes, headgear and through their dancing. Often Adivasis are blamed for their lack of advancement as they are believed to be resistant to change or new ideas.

Q7. What was the conclusion reached by the Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee?

Ans. The committee came to the conclusion that on a range of social, economic and educational indicators the situation of the Muslim community is comparable to that of other marginalised communities like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Q8. Why groups may be marginalised?

Ans. Their marginalisation can be because they speak a different language, follow different customs or belong to a different religious group from the majority community. They may also feel marginalised because they are poor, considered to be of ‘low’ social status and viewed as being less human than others.

Q9. How can we tackle Marginalisation?

Ans. Marginalisation is a complex phenomenon requiring a variety of strategies, measures and safeguards to redress this situation. All of us have a stake in protecting the rights defined in the Constitution and the laws and policies framed to realise these rights. Without these, we will never be able to protect the diversity that makes our country unique nor realise the State’s commitment to promote equality for all.

Q10. How marginalisation affect the community?

Ans. Sometimes, marginalised groups are viewed with hostility and fear. This sense of difference and exclusion leads to communities not having access to resources and opportunities and in their inability to assert their rights. They experience a sense of disadvantage and powerlessness vis-a-vis more powerful and dominant sections of society who own land, are wealthy, better educated and politically powerful.

Q11. Write in your own words two or more sentences of what you understand by the word ‘marginalisation’.

Ans. The word ‘marginalisation’ means exclusion from the mainstream. Groups of people or communities may have the experience of being excluded from mainstream society. Their marginalisation can be because they speak a different language, follow different customs or belong to a different religious group from the majority community. They may also feel marginalised because they are poor, considered to be of ‘low’ social status and viewed as being less human than others.

Q12. List two reasons why Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalised.

Ans. Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalized because

                         i.        They follow a different culture, language and traditions from mainstream Indian society which leads us to wrongfully classify them as exotic, primitive and backward.

                        ii.        They are used to a way of life close to nature and with the cutting down of forests they are being forced to migrate to urban areas where they feel out of place and not in sync with a lifestyle so vastly different from their countryside background.