CBSE Class 6 Social Science: Rural Livelihoods NCERT Solutions

Solution: In the village of Kalpattu, besides farming, many people are involved in various non-farm activities to earn their livelihood. Here are five such occupations:

1. Making various items like baskets, utensils, pots, and bullock-carts.
2. Teaching in local schools.
3. Washing clothes for others.
4. Weaving cloth and other textile products.
5. Repairing bicycles and other mechanical items.

Solution: In Kalpattu, several individuals depend on farming for their livelihood. These include:

• Thulasi, who works as a farm laborer.
• Sekar, who is a small farmer cultivating his own land.
• Ramalingam, who is a large landowner and employs farm laborers.

Among these individuals, Thulasi is the poorest. This is primarily because she does not own any land. She works on other people's fields, like Ramalingam's, and earns a daily wage. Although she is not entirely satisfied with her wages, she continues to work there as it provides her with a somewhat dependable, albeit low, income.

Solution: If I were part of a fishing family considering a loan for an engine, I would strongly advocate for taking the loan from a bank rather than approaching a private moneylender. Banks generally offer loans with much lower interest rates compared to moneylenders. High interest rates charged by moneylenders can quickly trap borrowers in a cycle of debt, making it extremely difficult to repay the principal amount and causing significant financial hardship.

Solution: No, the situation where poor rural laborers like Thulasi lack access to essential resources like good healthcare and education, while landowners like Ramalingam are prosperous, is not fair. This stark difference highlights economic inequality.

To address this unfairness, several measures can be considered:

• Land Ceiling: Implementing a land ceiling policy could help redistribute land more equitably, ensuring that everyone has a chance to own some land and earn a livelihood.
• Equal Opportunities: Ensuring equal opportunities in education and employment is crucial.
• Compulsory Primary Education: Making primary education compulsory and accessible to all children, especially those from poor families, can empower them.
• Promoting Education: Focused efforts should be made to promote education among the poor, as education helps them understand their rights, gain awareness, and access better opportunities.

These steps can help reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and create a more just society.

Solution: The government can play a significant role in assisting farmers like Sekar who find themselves in debt. Here are some ways the government can help:

• Subsidized Loans: Providing loans at very low interest rates, or even interest-free loans, can significantly ease the financial burden on farmers.
• Affordable Inputs: Supplying essential agricultural inputs such as quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides at subsidized rates would reduce the cost of cultivation.
• Agricultural Support Programs: Implementing programs that offer guidance on modern farming techniques, crop insurance, and market access can help farmers improve their yield and income.
• Debt Relief Measures: In times of crisis, the government could consider debt relief schemes or restructuring options for farmers facing insurmountable debt.

By offering such support, the government can help farmers like Sekar manage their finances better and avoid falling into deep debt.

Solution: Here is a comparison of the situations of Sekar and Ramalingam:

Feature	Sekar	Ramalingam
Land cultivated	Sekar cultivates two acres of land.	Ramalingam cultivates twenty acres of land.
Labour required	He manages the farm work himself, possibly with family help, and does not hire much labor.	He needs to hire labor to manage his large farm.
Loans required	He requires loans for essential agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. He often takes loans from traders.	He takes loans from government banks, not for farming inputs, but for establishing a rice mill and a shop.
Selling of harvest	He sells a few bags of paddy, often to repay the loan he took from the trader.	He owns a rice mill and a shop selling seeds and pesticides, indicating he processes and sells his produce and other goods.
Other work done by them	He owns a hybrid cow whose milk he sells to local cooperatives.	He owns a rice mill and a shop selling seeds and pesticides.

Solution: The correct option is (b) Twenty acres of land. The chapter and solutions clearly state that Ramalingam cultivates twenty acres of land, making him a large landowner in Kalpattu.

Solution: The correct option is (a) Rs. 40 per day. Thulasi, being a landless laborer, works on others' fields and earns a daily wage of Rs. 40, as mentioned in the chapter's context.