Constitution and social change; the family
When school rules change, behaviour in class also changes. In the same way when the Constitution changed laws, social behaviour and the structure of the family also changed.
Social change means change in thinking, relationships and customs in society. The provisions of equality and liberty in the Indian Constitution helped bring about this change.
Key idea 1 : Constitution and change in mindset — According to the Constitution all Indians are equal before the law and there can be no discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Freedom of speech, association, movement and of practising any occupation was given. These provisions shook the foundations of the caste system and reduced the practice of hereditary occupations.
Key idea 2 : The institution of the family — Before independence India was known across the world as a country of joint families. The wave of globalisation has given impetus to nuclear families. As per the textbook anyone can now go into a restaurant without regard to religion, caste or sex, which is a big change; citizens also have the right to criticise government policies through newspapers, speeches and other media.
Key idea 3 : Social change in the railways — In the British period a railway train had four classes — first, second, inter and third. Third-class passengers got very few facilities and a negative attitude, which was almost a symbol of the Indian social hierarchy. In the 1978 Railway Budget Railway Minister Madhu Dandavate ended this third class; later classless trains were also started.
- Easy : On what grounds is there no discrimination as per the Constitution? — Religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth.
- Medium : India was known as a country of which family system? — Joint family.
- Exam-type : Who ended the third class? — Madhu Dandavate.
In the figure: Changes from the Constitution to family and railways.
What happened before the change of railway classes? In 1977 Madhu Dandavate became Railway Minister; in his June 1977 budget speech he said the first attention would go to the “long-suffering second class passengers”. At that time first-class berths were padded but second-class berths were bare wood.
What happened after the change of railway classes? In 1978 the third class ended and padded seats and berths began to be fitted in second class. In his view the aim was not to bring first class down but to lift second class up. Later padded berths became common in second class and computerised reservation began.
Equality → family change → 1978 third class ended.
The third class was not ended by the British but by an Indian Railway Minister in 1978.
Memory clue: Eq-Fam-Rail = equality, family, railway. Memory clue: “three coaches of one train: equality, family, railway”.
Spot the difference
| Area | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Joint family | Nuclear families increased |
| Railway | Four classes | Third class ended (1978) |
| Opinion | Limits on criticism | Right to protest through media |
Practice questions
- 1What is social change?
- 2Which constitutional provisions shook the foundations of the caste system?
- 3For which family system was India known?
- 4Why was the third class on the railway considered a symbol?
- 5What happened before and after the change in railway classes?
- 6What are the reasons for the increase in nuclear families?
- 7Explain how the Constitution brought about social change.
- 8Make a table comparing joint and nuclear families.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Change in thinking, relationships and customs in society.
- 2Equality before law and freedom to practise any occupation.
- 3Joint family.
- 4Because third-class passengers got few facilities and disrespect; it was a symbol of social hierarchy.
- 5Before: wooden berths and four classes; after: third class ended and padded berths.
- 6Globalisation, migration for jobs and personal freedom.
- 7By giving rights of equality and freedom it reduced hereditary occupations and discrimination.
- 8Joint: many generations together, large family; nuclear: parents and children, small family.
Social welfare and public health
A student who is behind in school gets extra help. In the same way the government planned welfare programmes for sections left behind in society.
A welfare state is one that takes responsibility for citizens’ employment, health and education. As per the textbook India is the first country to put such an aim in its Constitution.
Key idea 1 : Ministry of Social Welfare — To take opportunities of development to women, children, the differently abled, the scheduled castes and tribes and other minorities was a great challenge. So on 14 June 1964 the Government of India constituted the Ministry of Social Welfare. Programmes for nutrition, child development, social security and women’s welfare are carried out under it; a similar arrangement exists at State level.
Key idea 2 : Scheduled Castes-Tribes and public health — As per the 1971 Census about 22% of people in India belonged to scheduled castes and tribes; they got scholarships, representation in Parliament and State Assemblies and reserved seats in government service. As per the Constitution raising the standard of living, ensuring nutrition and improving public health is the primary duty of the government.
Key idea 3 : Health services and immunisation — In the sixth Five Year Plan the aim was to take primary health services to rural people, tribals and the poor; along with allopathy, Unani, homoeopathy, Ayurveda and naturopathy were also recognised. An immunisation programme was taken up against polio, measles, tetanus, TB, diphtheria and whooping cough; the ‘pulse polio’ programme started in 1995 controlled polio.
- Easy : When was the Ministry of Social Welfare constituted? — 14 June 1964.
- Medium : When did the pulse polio programme start? — In 1995.
- Exam-type : What percentage were scheduled castes and tribes in the 1971 Census? — About 22%.
In the figure: Social welfare and health programmes.
As per the textbook, before 1978 six out of every 10 infants born faced fatal health problems in the first year, and immunisation helped to change this. (check with the book; use this figure as per the book in exams)
64 Ministry; 71 Census; 95 pulse polio.
The pulse polio programme is of 1995; the mid-day meal scheme is also of 1995 but it is a different programme.
Memory clue: Welfare-census-health-polio. Memory clue: “64, 71, 95”.
Spot the difference
| Programme | Year | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Social Welfare | 1964 | Welfare of weaker sections |
| Sixth plan: health | 1980-85 | Primary health services |
| Pulse polio | 1995 | Polio control |
Practice questions
- 1What is a welfare state?
- 2For what was the Ministry of Social Welfare constituted?
- 3What concessions did scheduled castes and tribes get as per the 1971 Census?
- 4What was the health aim in the sixth plan?
- 5Against which diseases was immunisation taken up? Name three.
- 6What was the result of the pulse polio programme?
- 7Why is improving public health the government’s responsibility?
- 8List the health facilities in your locality.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A state that takes responsibility for citizens’ employment, health and education.
- 2To take development to women, children, the differently abled, scheduled castes-tribes and minorities.
- 3Scholarships, representation in Parliament-Assemblies and reserved seats in government service.
- 4To take primary health services to rural people, tribals and the poor.
- 5Polio, measles and TB.
- 6Polio was brought under control.
- 7Because as per the Constitution improving people’s health is the primary duty of the government.
- 8Primary health centre, rural hospital, immunisation centre (student’s view).
Progress in medicine
When ill earlier one had to go to a far city; now treatment is available in a nearby hospital. Behind this is medical research.
Medical progress means discovery of new treatments, surgeries and tools. Because of it the need to go abroad has reduced.
Key idea 1 : Heart surgery and kidney transplant — As per the textbook in 1962 the first successful open-heart surgery was done at the Christian Medical College Hospital at Vellore (Tamil Nadu) under Dr N. Gopinath. In 1971 at the same hospital Dr Johny and Dr Mohan Rao transplanted a kidney donated by a living person into the patient’s body.
Key idea 2 : Jaipur Foot — As per the textbook before 1968 a person who lost a leg had to suffer all his life. Dr Pramod Sethi made artificial limbs with the help of skilled craftsman Ramchandra Sharma. The differently abled using the Jaipur Foot can walk barefoot, run, cycle, work in fields and sit cross-legged.
Key idea 3 : Test-tube baby — From 1978 childless couples began to get help from test-tube baby technology. As per the textbook under the supervision of Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyaya this experiment succeeded at Kolkata; a girl named Durga was born.
- Easy : Where was the first open-heart surgery done? — At Vellore (1962, as per the textbook).
- Medium : For what is the Jaipur Foot useful? — For the differently abled to walk and work.
- Exam-type : Where was the test-tube baby born? — At Kolkata (1978).
In the figure: Four medical successes.
What happened before the Kolkata test-tube baby? In July 1978 the world’s first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born at Oldham in England. In the same year in Kolkata Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay and his colleagues were doing a similar experiment with very simple equipment.
What happened after the Kolkata test-tube baby? On 3 October 1978 ‘Durga’ (Kanupriya Agarwal) was born in Kolkata, about 67 days after Louise; she is counted as the world’s second test-tube baby. He had not published his research in a scientific journal, so it did not get recognition at that time; around 2003 his work was acknowledged.
62 heart; 68 Jaipur Foot; 71 kidney; 78 test-tube.
The test-tube baby in India is not the world’s first but second; the first was born in England.
Memory clue: 62-68-71-78 = heart-foot-kidney-baby. Memory clue: “heart, foot, kidney, baby”.
Spot the difference
| Achievement | Year | Place/Person |
|---|---|---|
| Open-heart surgery | 1962 | Vellore; Dr Gopinath |
| Kidney transplant | 1971 | Vellore |
| Test-tube baby | 1978 | Kolkata; Dr Mukhopadhyay |
Practice questions
- 1As per the textbook where and under whom was the first open-heart surgery done?
- 2Who made the Jaipur Foot and state its benefits.
- 3Which surgery succeeded in 1971?
- 4Whom does test-tube baby technology help?
- 5What happened before and after the Kolkata test-tube baby?
- 6Why did the need to go abroad reduce because of medical progress?
- 7What change did the Jaipur Foot make in the lives of the differently abled?
- 8Make a chronological table of four medical achievements.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1At Vellore under Dr N. Gopinath (1962).
- 2Dr Pramod Sethi and Ramchandra Sharma; barefoot walking, running, cycling, farm work.
- 3Kidney transplant.
- 4Childless couples.
- 5Before: Louise Brown’s birth (July 1978); after: Durga’s birth (3 Oct 1978) and later recognition.
- 6Because such surgeries became possible in India itself.
- 7Walking, running and working became easier.
- 81962 heart; 1968 Jaipur Foot; 1971 kidney; 1978 test-tube baby.
Rural development and urbanisation
In cities there are more schools, shops and jobs so many families go there from villages. In the same way after independence village people turned to cities.
Urbanisation is the process of population concentrating in a city. Rural development means efforts to improve farming, facilities and living in villages.
Key idea 1 : Causes of urbanisation — Increase in population is the major cause. Reduction in the death rate after independence, industrialisation, scarcity of livelihood in rural areas and job opportunities in cities are other causes. To reduce the strain on cities, jobs in villages, balanced economic development and facilities in both city and village are necessary.
Key idea 2 : Rural development schemes — In 1961 82% of Indians lived in villages and in 1971 80.01%. For village development the community development scheme came; farming technology, irrigation, education and land reform laws were its parts. In Maharashtra Zilla Parishads were established in 1962; the nutritious diet scheme started in 1970-71 and by 1971 1677 small dams had been built.
Key idea 3 : Rural electrification — Electricity is necessary for pumps in fields, preserving perishable food, fertiliser projects, fans, TV and studying at night. In the first Five Year Plan electricity was provided to three thousand villages and by 1973 it reached 1,38,646 villages. In 1969 the Rural Electrification Corporation was established.
- Easy : What percentage lived in villages in 1961? — 82%.
- Medium : When were Zilla Parishads in Maharashtra? — In 1962.
- Exam-type : When was the Rural Electrification Corporation? — In 1969.
In the figure: Important years of rural development.
As per the textbook UNESCO gave its international prize for the spread of literacy in 1972 in recognition of Maharashtra’s education work and, as per the Kothari Commission’s recommendation, agricultural universities were started at Rahuri, Akola, Parbhani and Dapoli. (check with the book)
61 villages 82%; 62 Zilla Parishads; 69 rural electrification; 73 1.38 lakh villages.
Urbanisation does not mean only growth in area of cities; it means population concentrating in a city.
Memory clue: Villages-ZP-electricity-villages. Memory clue: “light a lamp in the village”.
Spot the difference
| Rural society | Point | Urban society |
|---|---|---|
| Farming and allied | Occupation | Non-farm production and services |
| Small, homogeneous | Size | Large, diverse |
| Joint family | Family | Nuclear family |
Practice questions
- 1What is urbanisation?
- 2State any three causes of urbanisation.
- 3Which scheme came for rural development?
- 4When were Zilla Parishads established in Maharashtra?
- 5Why is rural electrification necessary?
- 6What are the three challenges in rural development?
- 7Write the differences between rural and urban society.
- 8What measures would you suggest to reduce strain on cities?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The process of population concentrating in a city.
- 2Population growth, industrialisation and lack of livelihood in rural areas.
- 3The community development scheme.
- 4In 1962.
- 5Electricity is needed for pumps, food preservation, fertiliser projects and studying.
- 6Economic development, facilities for social needs and change in mindset.
- 7Rural: farming, small, joint family; urban: non-farm, large, nuclear family.
- 8Jobs in villages, balanced development and facilities in villages (student’s view).