NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Sociology (Social Change and Development in India) Chapter 4 Change and Development in Rural Society

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Class : 12th
Subject : Sociology
Chapter : 4
Chapter Name : Change and Development in Rural Society

Q1 Read the passage given and answer the questions :
The harsh working conditions suffered by labourers in Agha Bigha 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 decisively 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?

Answer.
(a) The maliks were able to use the power of the state to advance their own interests as they
had the economic power and they belonged to the upper class.
(b) The labourers had harsh working conditions because they belonged to the lower class and
were exploited by upper castes or dominant sections of the society.

Q2 What measures do you think the government has taken, or should take, to
protect the rights of landless agricultural labourers and migrant workers ?

Answer. The measures that government has taken or should take are :
(a) The government has already abolished the zamindari system, which was quite exploitative
for the underprivileged sections of farmers and workers.
(b) The government has introduced land ceiling policies to limit the ownership of people
regarding the land assets.
(c) The government has brought many land reforms and should introduce some more to favour
the labourers and migrant workers.
(d) The government should introduce laws to safeguard the occupational rights of migrant
workers regarding the eviction scenarios.
(e) The government should introduce more laws to preserve the working conditions of the
labourers to a suitable condition.
(f) It should also implement the laws regarding the women workers for equal pay for equal work.
(g) It should work for the introduction of maternity and paternity leaves within the ambit of the
respective sector.

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Book Name : Social Change and Development in India Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Sociology

Q3 There are direct linkages between the situation of agricultural workers and
their lack of upward socio-economic mobility. Name some of them.

Answer. The major linkages between the agricultural workers and their lack of upward
socio-economic mobility are:
(a) The aspect of land, as the land decides the economical and social position of the individual
in society.
(b) The poor working conditions and poor wages leading to low economic standards and low
status in terms of economic power dynamics.
(c) The exploitative nature and decreasing level of women participation , leading to decrease in
their social position and more exploitation.

Q4 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?

Answer. The different factors that have enabled certain groups to transform themselves into
new wealthy, entrepreneurial , dominant classes include:
(a) The caste position and status in the power dynamic structure which leads to no social
exploitation in educational and working avenues.
(b) The class positions , which leads to better opportunities as the subject person has more
economic capital.
(c) The solidarity within the ethnic groups which often leads to more business corporation.
(d) The gendered privilege as women face many inequalities to get out into corporate sectors.
The major aspect or example that transformed in our society included the Muslim Molvis, who
because of their religious status gained huge amount of economic and social capital.

Q5 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 ?

Answer. The media has the power to develop the narratives in society. The portrayal of villages
is often done to increase the scenic beauty within the movie pieces. We can conclude that the
portrayal of villages is not realistic. The recent film based upon the rural areas included the
aspects mainly concentrated towards the scenic beauty of villages but the aspects of social
stratification and the lack of facilities was not highlighted. The scenarios of organic solidarity and
local governance was neglected and nullified.

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Q6 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.

Answer. I live in Delhi. The most of the workers came from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
They are recruited by the people, belonging to the official employment organisation. These
people are known by different names according to their respective job or territory and in some
areas they are known as 'mukadams' or 'muqadams'. They have to migrate mainly because of
poor economic and social conditions in their native villages. The migration mainly happens for
better employment and educational opportunities.

Q7 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.

Answer. The fruits that they sell mainly include apples, mangoes, cherries, guavas etc. The
apples are mainly the delicacies of Kashmir. Mango and its different types are brought from
Maharashtra. Cherries and Guavas are mainly brought from the Northern and Central India. The
prices of the imported apples like American apples are very low , which has resulted in the
decline of the native fruit industries.

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