Understanding Marginalization

Marginalization: Marginalization refers to the process by which certain groups of people are
pushed to the edge of society, depriving them of access to important resources, rights, and
opportunities. These groups may be socially, economically, or politically excluded, and their
voices, needs, and concerns are often ignored or overlooked in decision-making processes.

Discrimination: Treating people unfairly or unequally based on characteristics such as caste,

gender, religion, or ethnicity.

Social Exclusion: The process through which certain individuals or groups are excluded
from full participation in society, often due to their social, economic, or cultural
characteristics.

Caste System:: A social stratification system in India, where people are classified into
hierarchical groups based on birth, often leading to discrimination and social inequality.

Scheduled Castes (SC): A group of people in India historically marginalized and socially
discriminated against due to the caste system. They are also referred to as Dalits.

Scheduled Tribes (ST): Indigenous communities in India who have been historically
marginalized and excluded from mainstream society. They often live in remote areas and face
social, economic, and cultural discrimination.

Other Backward Classes (OBC): A group of socially and educationally disadvantaged

people in India who do not belong to the SC or ST categories but still face marginalization.

Social Justice: The concept of fair and equal treatment for all individuals in society,
regardless of their caste, gender, religion, or ethnicity. It aims to reduce inequality and ensure
everyone has access to basic rights and opportunities.

Stereotyping: Making generalized and often unfair assumptions about people based on their
group identity, such as caste, gender, or ethnicity.

KEY POINTS :-
• Marginalisation refers to a situation in which an individual or a group of individuals is
deprived of certain privileges or treated as different from others.
• Adivasis – the term literally means ‘original inhabitants’ are communities who lived,
and often continue to live in close association with forests.
• To be marginalised is to be forced to occupy the sides or fringes and thus not be at the
centre of things.
 • Marginalisation can be because they speak a different language, follow different
customs or belong to a different religions group from a majority community.
• Economic, social, cultural and political factors work together to make certain groups
in society feel marginalised.
• Around 8% of India’s populations is Adivasi.
• Most important mining and industrial centres in India are located in Adivasi
areas.There are over 500 different Adivasi groups in India.
• The term minority is most commonly used to refer to communities that are
numerically small in relation to the rest of the population.
• Sachar Committee chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachar, examined the social, economic
and educational status of the Muslim community.
• Marginalisation is linked to experiencing disadvantage, prejudice and powerlessness.
Worksheet
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. The term Scheduled Tribe is used For?
a) Adivasis
b) Urban People
c) Rural People
d) Poor People
2. Around ____ percent population of India constitutes tribal population.
a) 10
b) 5
c) 8
d) 12
3. Certain groups feels marginalised due to factors, like:
a) Social and cultural
b) Economic
c) Political
d) All of these
4. What literally means the original inhabitants?
a) Adivasis
b) Minorities
c) Ghetto
d) Devoid
5. Stereotyping of Adivasis is related to their being:
a) Exotic
b) Primitive
c) Backward
d) All the above

6.The minorities are forced to live on the margins of economic and social development, this
is known
As ________
a) Malnourished
b) Marginalisation
c) Displaced
d) all of these
7. Niyamgiri hill located in Kalahandi district of______
a) Odisha
b) West Bengal
c) Punjab
d) Kerala
8. People believing that adivasis are.......
a) cunning, primitive and forward
b) exotic, primitive and backward
c) extrovert, primitive and forward
d) exotic, modern and backward
9. During the _____ century, substantial numbers of Adivasis converted to Christianity,
which has emerged as a
very important religion in modern Adivasi history.
a) 18th
b) 20th
c) 17th
d) 19th
10. Safeguards are needed to protect ___ communities against the possibility of being
culturally dominated by the
___
a) majority, majority
b) minority, minority
c) majority, minority
d) minority, majority

Question no. 11and 12 are assertion based questions, read the assertion and reason carefully
and answer the
following:-
11. Assertion: - Adivasis are invariably portrayed in very stereotypical ways.
Reason: - This often wrongly leads to people believing that they are exotic, primitive and
backward.
a) Assertion is right and reason is wrong.
b) Assertion is wrong and reason is right.
c) Assertion and reason both are wrong.
d) Assertion and reason both are right.
12. Assertion:-. When Adivasis are displaced from their lands, they lose much more than a
source of income.
Reason:- They lose their traditions and customs – a way of living and being
a) Assertion is right and reason is wrong.
b) Assertion is wrong and reason is right.
c) Assertion and reason both are wrong.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING :
1. What is Ghettoization?
2. Define marginalisation with example?
3. What was the conclusion reached by the Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee?
4. How are Adivasis portrayed today?
5. What are the main reasons for the marginalization of certain groups in society?
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