🌈 Chapter 5 – Understanding Marginalisation
✨ Introduction
- India is a country of diverse cultures, religions, and communities.
- While diversity is our strength, some communities are often left out or pushed to the margins of society.
- This process is called Marginalisation.
📌 Definition:
👉 Marginalisation is the process by which certain groups are excluded from mainstream society, denied equal opportunities, and face discrimination.
🟢 Why Do Communities Become Marginalised?
- Religion & Culture
- Minority religions may face prejudice and stereotyping.
- Example: Muslims in India sometimes face suspicion and unequal treatment.
- Economic Status
- Poverty keeps people away from education, healthcare, and jobs.
- Social Discrimination
- Caste-based discrimination (like Dalits facing untouchability).
- Language & Region
- Speaking a different language or belonging to a tribal region may cause exclusion.
🔵 Key Features of Marginalisation
- 🚫 Exclusion – denied participation in decision-making.
- 📉 Lower social status – labelled as inferior.
- 💰 Economic disadvantages – fewer resources, jobs, and opportunities.
- ⚖️ Lack of rights – treated unfairly despite constitutional protections.
🟣 Case Study 1 – Muslims in India
- Muslims form about 14% of India’s population.
- Issues faced:
- Misconceptions & prejudice (viewed with suspicion).
- Low literacy rate compared to national average.
- Fewer job opportunities in government & private sectors.
- Living in ghettos (separate colonies).
📌 Government Steps:
- Establishment of Sachar Committee (2005) to study their condition.
- Special schemes for education & employment.
🟤 Case Study 2 – Adivasis (Tribal Communities)
- Adivasis are the original inhabitants of forests and hilly areas.
- Rich in culture, music, dance, and unique traditions.
- They depend on forests for food, medicine, and livelihood.
🌲 Problems faced:
- Loss of Forests – mining, industries, and dams have displaced them.
- Land Alienation – land taken by outsiders.
- Poverty & Illiteracy – lack of access to education and healthcare.
- Exploitation – by moneylenders, contractors, and middlemen.
🟠 Effects of Marginalisation
- 🏫 Educational gap – fewer schools in marginalised areas.
- 💼 Job insecurity – very few government or organised sector jobs.
- 🏘️ Poor housing – live in slums or remote areas.
- ⚖️ Limited participation in democracy – rarely represented in politics.
- 💔 Loss of identity – forced to abandon their language, dress, or customs.
🟡 Safeguards in the Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution provides protection to ensure equality and justice.
- Fundamental Rights (Articles 14–18, 25–30):
- Equality before law.
- No discrimination based on caste, religion, gender.
- Freedom of religion and culture.
- Directive Principles of State Policy:
- Promote educational & economic interests of weaker sections.
- Reservation Policy:
- SCs, STs, and OBCs get reservations in education, jobs, and politics.
- Special Laws & Programmes:
- SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
- Scholarships, free hostels, and welfare schemes.
🟢 Why Should We Understand Marginalisation?
- To build a fair and just society.
- To ensure equality and fraternity among all communities.
- To remove prejudice and stereotypes.
- To give voice to the voiceless and oppressed.
🌟 Key Terms to Remember
- Marginalisation – Being pushed out of the mainstream.
- Minority – A community smaller in number compared to the majority.
- Adivasis – Indigenous tribal communities.
- Prejudice – Negative attitude towards a group without proper knowledge.
- Discrimination – Unfair treatment of people based on identity.
📝 Quick Revision (Mind Map Style)
🌍 Marginalisation
➡️ Causes → Religion, caste, poverty, culture, region
➡️ Effects → Exclusion, poverty, illiteracy, loss of rights
➡️ Groups affected → Muslims, Adivasis, Dalits, women
➡️ Solutions → Constitutional rights, reservation, welfare schemes