NCERT solutions for Sociology - Social Change and Development in India [English] Class 12 chapter 4 - Change and Development in Rural Society [Latest edition]

Read the passage given and answer the questions :-

The harsh working conditions suffered by labourers in Aghanbigha were an outcome of  the combined effect of the economic power of the maliks as a class and their overwhelming  power as members of a dominant caste. A significant aspect of the social power of the  maliks was their ability to secure the intervention of various arms of the state to advance  their interests. Thus, political factors decissively contributed to widening the gulf between  the dominant class and the underclass.

i.  Why do you think the maliks were able to use the power of the state to advance their own interests?

ii.  Why did labourers have harsh working conditions?

What measures do you think the government has taken, or should take, to  protect the rights of landless agricultural labourers and migrant workers?  

There are direct linkages between the situation of agricultural workers and  their lack of upward socio-economic mobility. Name some of them.

What are the different factors that have enabled certain groups to transform themselves into new wealthy, entrepreneurial, dominant classes? Can you think of an example of this transformation in your state? 

Hindi and regional language films were often set in rural areas. Think of a  film set in rural India and describe the agrarian society and culture that is  shown in it. How realistic do you think the portrayal is? Have you seen any  recent film set in rural areas? If not how would you explain it? 

Visit a construction site in your neighbourhood, a brickyard, or other such  place where you are likely to find migrant workers. Find out where the workers come from. How are they recruited from their home villages, who  is the ‘mukadam’? If they are from rural areas, find out about their lives in their villages and why they have to migrate to find work.

Visit your local fruit-seller, and ask her/him about the fruits she/he sells, where they come from, and their prices. Find out what has happened to the prices of local products after fruits began to be imported from outside of India (such as apples from Australia). Are there any imported fruits that are cheaper than Indian fruits.

Collect information and write a report on the environmental situation in rural India. Examples of topics: pesticides; declining water table; the impact of prawn farming in coastal areas; salination of soil and waterlogging in canal irrigated areas; loss of biodiversity.

[Possible source: State of India’s Environment Reports: Reports from Centre for Science and Development Down to Earth.]