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ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
In Maya's story, you read about how conflicts can often lead to violence and death because one group decides that it is all right to use force to prevent the other group from protesting.
Conflicts occur when people of different cultures, religions, regions, or economic backgrounds do not get along with each other, or when some among them feel they are being discriminated against. People may use violent means to settle their differences. This leads to fear and tension among others living in an area. The government is responsible for helping to resolve conflicts.
Let's read about some of the conflicts in our society and the role of the government in resolving them.
Religious processions and celebrations can sometimes lead to conflicts. For example, the route a procession takes may lead to a conflict. The government, particularly the police, play an important role in getting representatives of concerned communities to meet and try and arrive at a solution. At times there is fear that violence may erupt, with people throwing stones or trying to disrupt the procession. The police is responsible for ensuring that violence does not take place.
Rivers too can become a source of conflict between states. A river may begin in one state, flow through another, and end in a third. The sharing of river water between different states that the river goes through is becoming an issue of conflict. For example, you may have heard about the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The water stored in Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Karnataka is used for irrigating a number of districts and for meeting the needs of the city of Bengaluru. The water stored in Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu is used for crops grown in the delta region of that state.
A conflict arises because both dams are on the same river. The downstream dam in Tamil Nadu can only be filled up if the water is released from the upstream one located in Karnataka. Therefore, both states can't get as much water as they need for people in their states. This leads to conflict. The central government has to step in and see that a fair distribution is worked out for both states.
More to know
The Indian Constitution lays down the basic rules or laws that have to be followed by everyone. These laws are for both the government and the people. Conflicts and differences have to be resolved according to these laws. We will read more about this in later classes.
Activity:
Read the story again: Do you think the police shooting of Hector could have been avoided? How?
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK
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EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
One of the key ideas of a democratic government is its commitment to equality and justice. Equality and justice are inseparable.
The earlier practice of untouchability is now banned by law. This group of people were denied education, transport, or medical facilities, and even the chance to offer prayers. Dr. Ambedkar, whom you have read about earlier in this book, and many others like him, realised that such practices must not continue and that justice can only be achieved when people are treated equally.
The government also recognises this and makes special provisions for groups within society that are unequal. For instance, in our society, there is a general tendency to value and care for the boy child more than the girl child.
This means that society does not value the girl and boy child equally and this is unjust. In this context, the government steps in to promote justice by providing special provisions that can enable girls to overcome the injustice that they are subjected to. Thus it is possible that fees for girls might be waived or lowered in government schools or colleges.
Discuss
1. In Maya's story did the government support the idea that people are equal?
2. In Dr. Ambedkar's story did the practice of untouchability support the idea that people are equal?
Activity:
1. How do you think lowering the school fees would help girls attend school?
2. Can you think of any experience from your life in which you have helped someone out of a situation that you thought was unfair? Did everyone else see it the same way? What did you have to say to convince others that what you did was fair?
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK