RBSE Class 8 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalisation

These comprehensive RBSE Class 8 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalisation will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 8 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalisation

→ What does it mean to he socially marginalised?
To be socially marginalised means-those people or group who are forced to occupy the sides or fringes and thus not be at the centre of things. 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. 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 disadvantages and powerlessness vis-a-vis more powerful and dominant sections of society who own land, are wealthy, better educated and politically powerful. Thus, marginalisation is seldom experienced in one sphere. Economic, social, cultural and political factors work together to make certain groups in society feel marginalised. 

→ Who are Adlvasis?
Adivasis are communities who lived, and often continue to live, in close association with forests. Around 8 per cent of India’s population is Adivasi and many of India’s most important mining and industrial centres are located in Adivasi areas. There are over 500 different Adiwasi groups in India. Adivasi societies are also most distinctive because there is often very little hierarchy among them. Adivasis practise a range of tribal religions that are different from Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.

→ Adivasis, Development and Marginalisation:

• Forests covered the major part of our country till the nineteenth century and the Adivasis had a deep knowledge of, access to, as well as control over most of these vast tracts. In the pre-colonial world, they were traditionally ranged hunter-gatherers and nomads and lived by shifting agriculture and also cultivating in one place. For the past 200 years
• Adivasis have been increasingly forced-through economic changes, forest policies and political force applied by the State and private industry-to migrate to lives as workers in plantations, at construction sites, in industries and as domestic workers. They do not control or have much direct access to the forest territories.
• Tribal lands have been taken over by powerful groups or displaced due to mining and mining projects, dams, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries. With this, not only have their sources of income been snatched away, but their traditions and customs are also missing. Today they are seen as marginal and powerless communities.

→ Minorities and Marginalisation: The constitution provides safeguards to religious and linguistic minorities as part of our Fundamental Rights. The provisions of the Constitution protect minority communities against the possibility of being culturally dominated by the majority. They also protect them against any discrimination and disadvantage that they may face.

→ According to 2011 census, Muslims are 14.2 per cent of India’s population and are considered to be marginalised community in India today because in comparison to other communities, they have over the’ years been deprived of the benefits of socio-economic development. Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee Report (2005) shows 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.

→ Marginalisation is linked to experiencing disadvantage, prejudice arid powerlessness. In India there are several more marginalised communities. Yet, the lives of marginalised people can and do change.