Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Social Challenges from Class 10 Social Science. As society becomes more and more complex, the innumerable managerial conflicts sometimes weaken individuals and organizations and push them towards exploitation. These conflicts get expressed as social exploitation and problems of that time. There are some social problems which are the product of modernity. You will get to know about some of them here. The societies of developing countries like India are afflicted with many problems. For example, excessive population, poverty, unemployment, beggary, juvenile delinquency, crimes, problem of child labour, corruption, exploitation of women, dowry harassment, and youth unrest. It is essential to look into these problems positively as challenges instead of seeing them negatively. Let us get to know about a few of such social problems. [CHECKPOINT]
Child Labour. According to the Constitution, child labourers are those who are aged below 14 years and work in order to earn money. Normally, the labour undertaken by minor children is called child labour. In many developing countries like India, exploitation and employment of children are a rampant social evil. It is assuming greater proportions year by year. Children below 14 years are being employed in various fields. Majority of the child labourers work in rural areas like fields, farms and plantations. The rest work in urban and industrial areas. Causes include poverty, domestic conflicts, divorce, domestic violence, excessive control, greed of industrialists, illiteracy, kidnapping of children, and pledging them. [CHECKPOINT]
Ill-effects of child labour: Child labour is the result of a serious lacuna in the social system. The people who extract work from children throughout the day do not pay any attention to their mental, emotional, educational or medical needs. Instead, they harass them physically and mentally. Due to ill-health, lack of nutritious food and proper medical facilities, forced employment, economic and social exploitation, thousands of child labourers are suffering even today. At an age when they should have been playing, day-dreaming or studying, their innocence has been snatched away from them by pushing them into employment. [CHECKPOINT]
Remedial measures: The government has decided to take certain measures to free children from employment and exploitation, and rehabilitate them. The Central government has launched a programme called Rehabilitation Welfare Fund of Child Labourers through which their educational, medical and fundamental needs can be fulfilled, and their exploitation stopped. To prohibit appointment of child labourers, the Child Labour Prohibition and Control Act of 1986 has been enacted. Industrialists who violate this law will have to mandatorily contribute 20,000 rupees per child labourer to the Welfare Fund. [CHECKPOINT]
Constitutional provisions: Article 24 of our Constitution declares that employing children below 14 years for work is a cognizable offence. It warns against employing children in hazardous industrial units. Under the Directive principles of the State, the government has declared that ensuring the welfare of the children is its responsibility. The Government had undertaken many measures to eradicate child labour. It launched the National Child Labour Project in 1988. This project is implemented at the state level too. The department of Education, Labour, Women and Child Welfare together visit factories and identify child labourers. They rescue the child labourers and provide education along with all free facilities. [CHECKPOINT]
Bal Mandirs are being set up for the education of such children at Taluk and District levels. These children are being provided free food and shelter. Under the Sarvashikshana Abhiyan project, child labourers in Karnataka are being brought to school under the programme From Drudgery to school, and they are being given free education. The Right to Education Act of 2009 guarantees compulsory free education to children of 6 years to 14 years. As per this Act, 25 percent seats in private schools are reserved for child labourers, backward class children, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe children, and children with special needs. [CHECKPOINT]
The Supreme Court has ruled that a Child Labour Rehabilitation Welfare Fund should be established to protect the human rights and financial interests of child labourers and end their exploitation. The Union Government implemented a National Policy in 1987 for the welfare of child labourers. In 1988, it launched a Project for Child Labourers Welfare. In 2006, the government brought into force the Child Labour Eradication and Rehabilitation Act. POCSO, which stands for Protection of Children from Sexual Offense Act, is aimed at curbing the increasing number of sexual assaults on children in schools, families and public places. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act 2012 has been passed to prevent this increasing sexual violence. [CHECKPOINT]
This act punishes any child, male and female, below 18 years of age who has been sexually exploited, tortured, abused, molested, assaulted or subjected to unprotected touching in any manner whatsoever that constitutes sexual assault. This act was enacted by the Government of India on November 14, 2012. Activity: If any of your friends is a child labourer and stays away from school, bring it to the notice of your teacher. [CHECKPOINT]
Child Marriage: Child marriage tradition is one of the major problems in our society. Now, let us know what is the meaning of Child Marriage. According to law, the marriage that takes place between a boy of below 21 years and a girl who is below 18 years is child marriage. If either of the two is below the legal age, it is called child marriage. If a girl who is below 18 years of age is married to a boy of more than 21 years of age, it is also considered as child marriage. [CHECKPOINT]
Know this: Why child marriages should not be performed? First, it is illegal. Second, for a girl to enter the institution of marriage, she should be mentally and physically prepared to manage the functions of marriage. Having children is one of the basic functions of marriage. Hence, the girl should be ready mentally and physically to bear children. According to various researches, the womb would be evolved completely by the age of 18 years. An evolved womb can support the fetus for full nine months. Otherwise, the fetus may undergo damage and lead to its death, endangering the life of the mother also. Hence, it is mandatory for the girl to complete 18 years of age before entering marriage. [CHECKPOINT]
Child marriage is considered a crime. A child marriage affects not only the married couple but it also affects the physical and psychological well-being of the children born out of such marriages. Reasons for Child Marriage: First, gender discrimination is the primary reason for child marriage. It is believed that since a girl goes to another family after marriage, it is better to send her early. The discrimination between the boy and the girl results in child marriage. Interestingly, child marriages breed child marriages. The people who went through child marriages strive to get their children married off early. [CHECKPOINT]
Second, lack of education is one of the main reasons for child marriage. As the children do not go to school, they end up marrying early. Usually, if a family educates a girl till class 10th, they do not get her married unless she attains the age of 18 years. Hence, education plays a major role in the prevention of child marriage. Third, lack of proper implementation of law, poor implementation of legal provisions in school education, and lack of participation on the part of community and general public in the implementation of child rights and child development programmes has led to the problem of child marriage to prevail. [CHECKPOINT]
Effects of Child Marriage: The holistic development of children is stunted by child marriage and they lose the power of questioning. As a result, violations like sexual assaults on children increase in number. Many rights of children like education, childhood, entertainment, and interaction with friends continue to be violated. Children fall into the trap of malnutrition, anemia, diseases, abortions, infanticide, and maternal mortality increases. The chance of a girl becoming a widow at a young age is also more, and they become a victim of violence easily. [CHECKPOINT]
How to prevent Child Marriage? The Government of Karnataka has designated 47 officers of different levels as the Child Marriage Prevention Officers. Hence, wherever a child marriage takes place, you can complain against it with any of these officers. You can lodge a complaint through a toll free number 1098. You need not disclose your name also. You can also inform the Head Master of the neighbouring government school, Village Accountant, Panchayat Development Officer, Health Inspectors and the nearby Police Station also. [CHECKPOINT]
All these are considered as Child Marriage Prevention Officers. It is their duty to see to it that no child marriage takes place in their area. If a child marriage has taken place, they are the officers who are empowered to lodge a complaint at the concerned police station. Apart from this, all the district and taluk level officials are regarded as Child Marriage Prevention Officers. They can lodge a complaint anywhere at any time. Solutions for Child Marriage: First, implementing the education Development Programmes without lapses can prevent school dropouts before 18 years of age. This means all the children within 18 years of age should be within the schooling system and should have 100 percent attendance. Similarly, birth registration is compulsory and 100 percent birth registration target is needed. [CHECKPOINT]
Second, importance should be given to girls education. They should be empowered on priority. A child marriage should always be reported, questioned and opposed. Activity: If you come to know a friend of yours is about to go through child marriage, inform the issue to the Child Marriage Prevention Officers or simply call 1098. Child Marriage Prohibition Act 2006: This Act applies to all states of India. The Act of 2006 has come into effect with a few changes in the previous laws. Previously, the 1929 Act also fixed the minimum age to get married. After India became signatory of the Child Rights Convention of the UN on 11th December 1992, the new law was brought into effect with changes as per the convention agreed upon. [CHECKPOINT]
As per this law, it is a crime to marry even when either of the couple is a minor. It is a crime even if a major man marries a minor girl or vice versa. If a child marriage takes place, the people who are invited to the marriage and those who conducted or motivated the marriage are liable for imprisonment of two years and a fine of one lakh rupees. As per provisions of this law under columns 9, 10 and 11, the priest, the photographer, videographer, cook, provider of Shamiyana services, musicians, vehicle drivers and whoever took part in the marriage are liable for punishment. [CHECKPOINT]
The parents of the girl or boy are considered as the major culprits. The owner of the marriage hall, the printer who printed marriage invitations, all are considered as offenders under this law. Whoever encourages and participates in the child marriage is considered an offender. The very participation in child marriages means the violation of child rights. All the violators are considered as offenders. The law clearly declares that all citizens of the country have the responsibility of protecting child rights. [CHECKPOINT]
Harassment of Women: One of the innumerable problems being faced by Indian women is harassment. In spite of their progress in various fields like education, economics, politics and industry, there is violence inflicted upon women. Rape, violence, suppression, dowry harassment, physical and mental harassment, forced abortions, and use of vulgar language are some of the harassments on women both inside and outside the house. Let us discuss a few problems. Dowry: Dowry is a custom associated with the Indian system of marriage. It is called Varadakshina in Kannada. Vara means a boy of marriageable age. Dakshina is the giving of a gift. It is a gift given to the bridegroom. Any kind of property, jewellery or gift given to the bridegroom at the time of marriage, either before or after the marriage is known as dowry. Giving or receiving dowry is a punishable crime. [CHECKPOINT]
When the bride family cannot afford to satisfy the bridegroom demand for money and jewellery and yet have to struggle to fulfil them, it results in great exploitation. As a consequence, the bride family will have to face severe financial constraints. In this way, dowry is a social evil tormenting women. In the name of dowry, women are being abused and subjected to violence, torture and murder. Ill-effects of Dowry: Dowry diminishes women self-respect, dignity and stature. It leads to domestic conflicts. It also creates animosity between men and women. Due to this evil, immorality and violence increase. Family relationships suffer. Families of brides get oppressed under financial constraints. Greed for dowry is leading to deception in the name of marriage. [CHECKPOINT]
In order to escape from the dowry menace, people are resorting to child marriage. Female foeticide and female infanticide are increasing. The number of divorces are also rising. Measures to eradicate dowry system: Prohibition of Dowry Act 1961: In order to legally eradicate the dowry system, the Central government enacted a Prohibition of Dowry Act in 1961. Under this Act, marrying under the condition of being provided dowry is prohibited. Those who violate this law are fined 5,000 rupees or sent to jail for 6 months. Sometimes both the penalties are imposed. This Act was amended in 1986 and made stricter. [CHECKPOINT]
According to the amendment, any person who gives, takes or forces to give dowry can be imprisoned for 5 years and fined 15,000 rupees. Dowry deaths have been brought under the purview of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. They can be tried only as non-bailable and non-negotiable offences. Apart from legal measures, encouraging people to become aware, promoting inter-caste marriages, utilizing modern mass media, and supporting voluntary organizations and women associations can also help to eradicate this social evil from our midst. [CHECKPOINT]
Female Foeticide and Female Infanticide: Among the innumerable problems being faced by Indian women even in today modern world, female foeticide and female infanticide are the most inhuman. Female Foeticide: When the foetus is that of a girl and the parents do not want a girl baby to be born, they kill it in the womb itself. This is known as female foeticide. Developments in modern medicine enable the parents to know whether the foetus is that of a girl or boy through sex determination tests. The desire for a male child is leading to misuse of modern technology. Through the help of scanning, people get to know the biological gender of the foetus, and if it is that of a girl and they do not want it, they get rid of it by killing it in the womb itself. Cases of such abortions are increasing in number day by day. [CHECKPOINT]
Cases of female foeticide are rising in number due to reasons like poverty, burden of dowry, illiteracy, ignorance, anti-women ideas, and desire for male progeny. As a result of female foeticide, there is a reduction in the number of women leading to imbalanced gender ratio, gender discrimination, and degradation of women status. In order to stop sex determination tests of foetuses through modern technology, the Prohibition of Pre-natal Gender Determination Test Act was enacted in 1994. In spite of this Act, clandestine female foeticide is being carried on against law. Do you know this? According to the 2011 census, with the exception of Kerala and Pondicherry, in all the states and union territories the number of women is less than that of men. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us examine the gender ratio data from the textbook table. For the 2001 census, the overall ratio was 933 women per 1000 men. In rural areas it was 949 women per 1000 men, and in urban areas it was 928 women per 1000 men. For the 2011 census, the overall ratio improved to 943 women per 1000 men. Female Infanticide: The inhuman practice of killing the female baby after it is born is female infanticide. Cases of female infanticide are very rare these days. If the government enacts a Prohibitory Act to stop shameful activities like female infanticide, the gender ratio between men and women will be equal. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us move on to the exercises. Exercise One asks you to fill in the blanks with suitable words. Question one: Article 24 of the Constitution prohibits employing children for work. Question two: The Prohibition of Child Labour Act came into practice in the year 1986. Question three: The National Policy was framed in 1987. Question four: The Prohibition of Dowry Act first came into effect in 1961. Question five: Protection of Children from sexual offenses act came into force in 2012. [CHECKPOINT]
Exercise Two asks you to answer the following in one sentence each. Question six: Mention any two social challenges plaguing India. Answer: Two major social challenges plaguing India are the problem of child labour and the harassment of women through dowry and violence. Question seven: Who are child labourers? Answer: Child labourers are those who are aged below 14 years and work in order to earn money. Question eight: What is the meaning of female foeticide? Answer: Female foeticide is when the foetus is that of a girl and the parents do not want a girl baby to be born, so they kill it in the womb itself. [CHECKPOINT]
Question nine: What is female infanticide? Answer: Female infanticide is the inhuman practice of killing the female baby after it is born. Question ten: What is Child Marriage? Answer: Child Marriage is a marriage that takes place between a boy of below 21 years and a girl who is below 18 years, or if either of the two is below the legal age. Exercise Three asks you to discuss the following in groups and answer. Question eleven: Mention the causes for the problem of child labour. Answer: The causes for child labour are poverty, domestic conflicts, divorce, domestic violence, excessive control, greed of industrialists, illiteracy, kidnapping of children and pledging them. [CHECKPOINT]
Question twelve: What are the consequences of child labour? Answer: The consequences are that children suffer from ill-health, lack of nutritious food, lack of proper medical facilities, forced employment, and economic and social exploitation, while their mental, emotional, educational and medical needs are completely ignored. Question thirteen: Explain the measures for eradicating the problem of child labour. Answer: Measures include launching the Rehabilitation Welfare Fund of Child Labourers, enacting the Child Labour Prohibition and Control Act of 1986, implementing the National Child Labour Project in 1988, setting up Bal Mandirs at Taluk and District levels with free food and shelter, implementing the Sarvashikshana Abhiyan and Right to Education Act of 2009, establishing a Child Labour Rehabilitation Welfare Fund as per Supreme Court ruling, implementing the National Policy in 1987, and enforcing the Child Labour Eradication and Rehabilitation Act in 2006. [CHECKPOINT]
Question fourteen: What are the evil effects of dowry system? Answer: The evil effects are that it diminishes women self-respect, dignity and stature, leads to domestic conflicts, creates animosity between men and women, increases immorality and violence, causes family relationships to suffer, oppresses bride families financially, leads to deception, child marriage, female foeticide, female infanticide, and rising divorce rates. Question fifteen: What are the solutions for the problem of dowry? Answer: Solutions include legally enforcing the Prohibition of Dowry Act 1961 and its 1986 amendment, bringing dowry deaths under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita as non-bailable and non-negotiable offences, creating public awareness, promoting inter-caste marriages, utilizing modern mass media, and supporting voluntary organizations and women associations. [CHECKPOINT]
Question sixteen: What are the effects of Child Marriage? Answer: The effects are that holistic development is stunted, children lose the power of questioning, violations like sexual assaults increase, rights to education, childhood, entertainment and interaction are violated, children suffer from malnutrition, anemia, diseases, abortions, infanticide, maternal mortality increases, and girls face higher chances of becoming widows and victims of violence. Exercise Four is an activity. Make a list of the social problems of your place. You should observe your local community and write down issues like child labour, early marriages, dowry demands, gender discrimination, unemployment, or substance abuse, and discuss them with your teacher. [CHECKPOINT]
Exercise Five is a project. Invite a legal expert to your school and conduct a lecture about child marriage, the laws of infanticide and child labour. You should coordinate with your school administration to arrange a session where a lawyer or legal scholar explains the constitutional provisions, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, the POCSO Act 2012, and the laws against female infanticide, helping students understand their rights and legal remedies. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]