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Chapter – 08 Civics, Confronting Marginalisation, •, , •, , •, , Invoking Fundamental Rights:, (i), The Fundamental Constitutional Rights are equally available to all Indians including, marginalized groups., (ii), Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims, women and other marginal groups argue that simply by, being citizens of a democratic country, they possess equal rights that must be, respected., , (iii) Mnay among them look up to the Constitution to address their concerns., (iv) By insisting on their Fundamental Rights , they have forced the government to, (v), The struggles of the marginalized groups have influenced the government to frame, recognize the injustice done to them and they have insisted that the government, new laws, in keeping with the spirit of the Fudamental Rights., should enforce these laws., (vi) Article 17 of the Constituion states that untouchability has been abolished., (vii) This means that no one can henceforth prevent Dalit from educating themselves,, entering temples, using public facilities, etc., (viii) Article 15 of the Constitution states that no citizen of India shall be discriminated, against on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. This has been used by, Dalits to seek equality where it has been denied to them., Laws for the Marginalised Goups:, (i), There are specific laws and policies for the marginalized groups in our country., (ii), The government makes an effort to promote such policies to give opportunities to, specific groups., (iii) The government tries to promote social justice by providing for free or subsidized, hostels for the students of Dalit and Adivasi communities., (iv) The reservation policy is significant and highly contentious., (v), The laws which reserve seats in education and government employment for Dalits, and Adivasis are based or an important argument that in a society like ours, where for, centuries sections of the population have been denied opportunities to learn and to, work in order to develop new skills or assist these sections., (vi) Governments across India have their list of Scheduled Castes or Dalits, Scheduled, Tribes and backward and most backward castes. The cenral government too has its, list., (vii) Students applying to educational institutions and those applying for posts in, government are expected to furnish proof of their caste or tribe status, in the form of, caste and tribe certificates., Protecting the Rights of Dalits and Adivasis:

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(i), , •, , Our country has specific laws that guard against the discrimination and exploitation of, marginalized communities., (ii), The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was, framed in 1989 to protect Dalits and Adivasis against the domination and violence of, the powerful castes., (iii) A number of assertive Dalit groups came into being and asserted their rights-they, refused to perform their so-called caste duties and insisted on being treated equally., (iv) In the 1970’s and 1980’s Adivasi people successful organized themselves and, demanded equal rights and for their land resources to be returned to them., (v), This Act distinguishes several levels of crimes., (vi) It lists-modes of humiliation that are both physically horrific and morally, reprehensible., (vii) Actions that disposess Dalits and Adivasis of their meagre resources or which force, them into performing slave labour., (viii) Crime against Dalit and tribal women are of a specific kind and therefore seeks to, penalize who use force on these women., (ix) Manual scavenging referes to the practice of removing human and animal, water/excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carrying it, on the head to the disposal ground some distance away., (x), In 1993, the government passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and, Contruction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act. This law prohibits the employment of, manual scavengers as well as the construction of Dry latrines., Adivasis Demands and the 1989 Act, (i), The 1989 Act is important because Adivasi refer to it to defend their right to occupy, land that was traditionally theirs., (ii), Adivasis often unwilling to move from their land, are forcibly displaces., (iii) This act merely confirms that the land belonging to the tribal people cannot be sold to, or bought by non-tribal people., , Material downloaded from http://myCBSEguide.com and http://onlineteachers.co.in, Portal for CBSE Notes, Test Papers, Sample Papers, Tips and Tricks