CIVICS-VII- LESSON-1 EQUALITY IN INDIAN DEMOCRACY (LESSON NOTES)

CIVICS-VII- LESSON-1

EQUALITY IN INDIAN DEMOCRACY

(LESSON NOTES)

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v  INTRODUCTION

Ø Equality is a condition in which adequate opportunities are given to all. It is the soul of Indian democracy. In India all people have the equal political right, have the voting right. But in this lesson we will try to find the different aspect of equality and inequality exist in India.

Ø We also try to find the status of equality in oldest democracy, USA.

EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS

v Equal Right to Vote

Ø In India all persons of the age 18 and above have the right to vote, irrespective of their religion, caste, education, status or place of birth that is known as Universal adult Franchises.

v Does Equality Exist

Ø In spite of equal political rights, In reality, differences exists in India between rich and poor on difference basis-

§  Difference found in India due to Poverty and also on the basis of place of birth.( Story Of Kanta)

§  The caste system is rigid in India.

§  Dalits in India are denied the right to dignity and equality.(Story Of Mr Omprakash Valmiki-Jhootan(auto Biography)

§  Inequality also found on the basis of religion. minorities are also denied the right to dignity and equality.( Story of Mr and Mrs Ansari)

v EQUALITY IN INDIAN DEMOCRACY

Ø The Indian Constitution recognizes every person as equal. Universal Adult Franchise gives political equality.

Ø All person are equal before law. it means no one can be discriminated on the basis of religion , caste, sex place of birth or on economic basis.

Ø Third, every person has access to all public places including

playgrounds, hotels, shops and markets.

Ø Fourth, untouchability has been abolished.

v IMPLEMENTATION OF EQUALITY

Ø However, it does not mean that inequality does not exist in India.

Ø Universal Adult Franchise gives political equality, not social and economic equality.

Ø The government has tried to implement equality by different means-

§  Through laws-

·       Everyone is equal before the law.

·       No discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, religion, race, gender;

·       Everyone has access to all public places

·       Untouchability has been abolished.

§  Through government programmes or schemes to help disadvantaged communities.

·       Mid-day Meal Scheme

¨    According to this scheme cooked lunch has been provided to all students in the government school.

¨    It has been launched firstly in Tamil Nadu

¨    After that by the order of Supreme Court it was implemented all over in India in 2001.

¨    It has been launched to improve the attendance and enrolment ratio of children in schools.

v ISSUES OF EQUALITY IN OTHER DEMOCRACIES

Ø Now we find the issue of equality in oldest democracy, USA.

Ø In USA the Afro American people faced discrimination on the basis of
their colour, None as Apartheid.

Ø They don’t have the equal rights and live in poverty.

Ø These people also struggle for their rights.(Story Of Roza Parks)

Ø CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

§  The movement started by afro American in 1960 against the apartheid system was known as civil right movement.

§  It was initially started by a woman Named Rosa Parks, when she reduced to gave the seat to a white person.

§  After that it spread in all parts of America and demanding equal right in all sphere and remove discrimination.

§  Finally in 1964 USA government passed an act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion or national origin. It was known as Civil Right Act.

v DIGNITY

Ø  Dignity is the thinking or state of being worthy of esteem or respect.

Ø The dignity of an individual is violated on the basis of their caste, religion or gender.

v TERMS-

v Universal Adult Franchise: It means that all adult citizens have the right to vote irrespective of their social or economic backgrounds. Here, adult means those who are 18 and above.

v Dalit: It means broken. Term used for lower caste.

v Joothan: It was the autobiography of Mr Omprakash Valmiki, a dalit writer.

v Dignity: Thinking of oneself and other persons as worthy of respect.

v Constitution: A document that lays down the basic rules and regulations by which a country is governed is called as constitution.

v BR Ambedkar- Father of Indian constitution, Chairman of Drafting committee.