Confronting Marginalisation

Invoking Fundamental Rights

• The Constitution of India defines Fundamental Rights that are available equally to all citizens.
• Marginalised groups use these rights in two main ways:

  → Highlighting injustice to push the government to take action.

  → Demanding laws that align with these rights for fairness and equality.

• Article 17 abolishes untouchability:

  → Dalits cannot be denied access to public places, schools, or temples.

  → Practising untouchability is a punishable offence.

• Article 15 bans discrimination based on:

  → Religion

  → Race

  → Caste

  → Sex

  → Place of birth

• Marginalised communities use these rights to bring attention to unfair treatment.
• Minorities rely on rights that protect religion, culture, and education:

  → They can preserve their traditions, languages, and institutions.

  → The Constitution ensures cultural equality for all communities.

Laws for the Marginalised

Promoting Social Justice

• The government provides free or subsidised hostels for Dalit and Adivasi students.
• It creates laws to address social inequality.
• Reservation policy:

  → Reserves seats in education and government jobs for marginalised groups.

  → Aims to correct historical denial of opportunities.

  → Requires valid caste or tribe certificates.

  → Includes cut-off marks and scholarships.

Protecting the Rights of Dalits and Adivasis

• The government has passed special protective laws against discrimination.
• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989:

  → Introduced after repeated violence and exploitation of Dalits.

  → Punishes crimes like caste-based abuse, land seizure, and forced labour.

• Examples of crimes under the Act:

  → Forcing someone to eat or drink inedible substances.

  → Public humiliation like stripping or painting the face.

  → Taking over land of Dalits or Adivasis illegally.

  → Forcing them into bonded labour.

  → Assaulting women with intent to disrespect.

Adivasi Demands and the 1989 Act

• The Act protects Adivasi land rights and helps resist displacement.
• Many were removed from forests and villages for development projects.
• It ensures punishment for those who take over tribal land.
• Upholds the rule that tribal land can't be sold to non-tribals.
• Tribal people can reclaim their land or receive compensation and rehabilitation.

MCQs

1. Which is the Article of Constitution that states that untouchability has been abolished?

(a) Article 16

(b) Article 18

(c) Article 28

(d) Article 17

► (d) Article 17

2. People believing that Adivasis are

(a) cunning, primitive and forward

(b) exotic, primitive and backward

(c) extrovert, primitive and forward

(d) exotic, modern and backward

► (b) exotic, primitive and backward

3. During the ___ century, substantial numbers of Adivasis converted to Christianity

(a) 18th

(b) 20th

(c) 17th

(d) 19th

► (d) 19th

4. What term means to exclude or banish an individual or a group?

(a) Dalit

(b) S.C.

(c) Ostracise

(d) None of these

► (c) Ostracise

5. Who was Kabir by caste?

(a) Weaver

(b) Kumhar

(c) Barbar

(d) Mason

► (a) Weaver

6. Shakti and Tantric traditions in

(a) Orissa and Assam

(b) Bengal and Kerala

(c) Bengal and Assam

(d) Kerala and Orissa

► (c) Bengal and Assam

7. A person or a group that can express themselves and their views strongly are

(a) assertive

(b) representative

(c) forceful person

(d) none of these

► (a) assertive

8. What do you understand by manual scavenging?

(a) Work of scavenging by machine

(b) Work of scavenging by hand

(c) Work of scavenging by power

(d) None of these

► (b) Work of scavenging by hand

9. Today whose poetry is sung and appreciated by Dalits and marginalised groups?

(a) Tulsidas

(b) Surdas

(c) Kabir's

(d) Rahim's

► (c) Kabir's

10. Adivasis have always been influenced by different surrounding religions like

(a) Shakta, Sikhs, Polish and Christianity

(b) Shakta, Sikhs, Muslims, Polish and Christianity

(c) Shakta, Buddhist, Vaishnav, Bhakti and Christianity

(d) None of these

► (c) Shakta, Buddhist, Vaishnav, Bhakti and Christianity

11. The forest or tribal people living in their aboriginal state are known as

(a) Invoke

(b) Dalits

(c) Adivasis

(d) None of these

► (c) Adivasis

12. Who needs to constantly work to bring equality and dignity for all?

(a) Government

(b) People

(c) None of them

(d) Both of them

► (d) Both of them

13. Which type of poems did Kabir write?

(a) Bhakti tradition

(b) Veer Ras

(c) Revolutionary

(d) None of these

► (a) Bhakti tradition

14. How does the government ensure to end the inequity in the country?

(a) Through laws

(b) Through reservations

(c) Both a and b

(d) None of them

► (c) Both a and b

15. Who out of the following are facing inequalities due to marginalisation?

(a) Dalits

(b) Women

(c) Adivasis

(d) All of them

► (d) All of them

16. The well known Bhakti poet Chokhamela was from

(a) sixteenth century

(b) seventeenth century

(c) fifteenth century

(d) fourteenth century

► (d) fourteenth century