Society, Tribes & Social Issues of Rajasthan — Practice

Question 1

State Rajasthan's sex ratio and child sex ratio as per Census 2011.

Accepted Answer

The sex ratio was 928 females per 1,000 males, below the national 943, and the child sex ratio was 888, among the lowest in the country.

Question 2

What was the Vishaka case and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) arose from the gang-rape of Bhanwari Devi, a village-level social worker. The Supreme Court laid down guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace, which were later codified in the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.

Question 3

Write a note on the Sahariya tribe of Rajasthan.

Accepted Answer

The Sahariya live mainly in Baran district (Shahbad and Kishanganj) and are the only Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Rajasthan. They depend on forest produce and seasonal labour, and have the lowest literacy and highest deprivation among the state's tribes. Special development programmes target the community.

Question 4

Name three social evils prevalent in Rajasthan and the laws against them.

Accepted Answer

Child marriage, addressed by the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006; sati, addressed by the Rajasthan Sati Prevention Act and the central Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, after the Deorala case; and witch-hunting, addressed by the Rajasthan Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2015. Death feasts are banned by the Death Feast Prohibition Act, 1960.

Question 5

Explain the practices of nata and dapa.

Accepted Answer

Nata is a custom in some communities under which a married woman may leave one household and live with another man on payment, and it can lead to exploitation. Dapa is bride price paid by the groom's family in some tribal groups, which affects women's agency and can encourage early marriage. Both reflect patriarchal norms.

Question 6

Which laws protect Scheduled Castes from discrimination and atrocities?

Accepted Answer

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 punishes untouchability practices, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 provides for special courts, relief and punishment for atrocities. The 2013 Act prohibits manual scavenging and requires rehabilitation of those engaged in it.

Question 7

Discuss the status of women in Rajasthan and the measures taken to improve it. (~150 words)

Accepted Answer

Census 2011 shows a sex ratio of 928, a child sex ratio of 888 and female literacy of 52 per cent, well below male literacy. Causes include patriarchal norms, early marriage such as Akha Teej weddings, purdah, son preference and limited access to school and health services in remote areas. Customs such as nata and dapa reduce women's agency. Responses combine law and programmes: the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and Dowry Prohibition Act, the Vishaka guidelines and the 2013 workplace Act that followed the Bhanwari Devi case, the State Commission for Women and schemes such as Rajshri and self-help groups. Progress requires effective enforcement, community mobilisation and investment in girls' education, since law alone has not shifted attitudes.

Question 8

Describe the tribal population of Rajasthan and the problems it faces. (~150 words)

Accepted Answer

Rajasthan has twelve notified Scheduled Tribes forming 13.5 per cent of the population (Census 2011). The Meena and Bhil are the largest, with others including Garasia, Damor, Dhanka, Kathodi and Sahariya. The Bhil belt in the south, including Banswara and Dungarpur, is tribal-majority and covered by Fifth Schedule and Tribal Area Sub-Plan provisions. Problems include low literacy, poor health and nutrition, seasonal migration for work, weak forest and land rights, and displacement. The Sahariya, the state's PVTG, are the most deprived. Responses include the Tribal Area Sub-Plan, residential schools, PESA-based Gram Sabha powers and forest-rights recognition, but implementation gaps remain in remote hamlets.

Practice — Society, Tribes & Social Issues of Rajasthan

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