NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies Looking Around: Chapter 18 — No Place for Us?
Chapter 18, 'No Place for Us?' from NCERT's Class 5 Environmental Studies book 'Looking Around', introduces the story of Jatryabhai and his family who migrated from Sinduri village to Mumbai. Facing financial hardship, Jatryabhai repairs fishing nets, while his son Sidya works long hours in a fish factory and collects recyclables. The chapter highlights the challenges of urban life, including the cost of basic necessities like water and rent, contrasting it with the peaceful, nature-filled life in their ancestral village, Khedi. It prompts reflection on displacement, the reasons for migration to cities, and the prevalence of child labor. The narrative emphasizes the loss of traditional livelihoods and community life, urging students to consider the difficulties faced by families forced to leave their homes for economic survival in big cities.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 5 |
| Subject | Environmental Studies |
| Book | Looking Around |
| Chapter | Chapter 18 — No Place for Us? |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 454 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the reasons why families migrate from villages to cities.
- Recognize the challenges and difficulties faced by people living in big cities.
- Compare and contrast life in a village with life in a city.
- Reflect on the impact of displacement and the loss of traditional livelihoods.
- Identify instances of child labor and its causes.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Migrate | To move from one place to another, especially to live or work. |
| Rent | A sum of money paid regularly for the use of a property or land. |
| Medicines | Substances used for medical treatment. |
| School fees | Money paid for attending school. |
| Fishing nets | Nets used for catching fish. |
| Fish factory | A place where fish are processed and prepared. |
| Vegetable market | A place where vegetables are bought and sold. |
| Kabadiwalla | A junk seller or scrap dealer. |
| Jungle | An area with dense forest and wild animals. |
| Hills | A large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level. |
| Farming | The activity or business of cultivating land, raising crops and feeding, breeding, and raising livestock. |
| Displacement | The forced removal of people from their homes or territories. |
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Practice questions
- Why did Jatryabhai's family move from Sinduri village to Mumbai? Answer: Jatryabhai's family moved to Mumbai because they were facing difficulties in their village and sought better economic opportunities, though they found urban life challenging.
- What kind of work did Sidya do in Mumbai? Answer: Sidya worked in a fish factory cleaning and sorting fish in the morning, and in the evening, he collected empty bottles and newspapers to sell.
- What are some of the expenses Jatryabhai had to manage in the city? Answer: Jatryabhai had to pay for medicines, food, school fees, and rent for their house, and even buy water.
- Describe the life Jatrya remembered from his village, Khedi. Answer: Jatrya remembered Khedi village as a peaceful place with soothing sounds of nature, where people farmed and collected resources from the forest, and children learned traditional skills.
- Why do you think families like Jatryabhai's are coming to big cities? Answer: Families like Jatryabhai's come to big cities in search of work and better livelihood opportunities, often due to economic hardship or lack of resources in their villages.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jatryabhai and where did he move from?
Jatryabhai is a character in the chapter whose family migrated from Sinduri village to Mumbai.
What problems did Jatryabhai face in Mumbai?
Jatryabhai faced financial difficulties, had to pay for medicines, food, school fees, rent, and even buy water.
What was Sidya's daily routine in Mumbai?
Sidya worked in a fish factory from 4 AM to 7 AM, then went to school in the afternoon, and collected recyclables in the evening.
How was life in Jatrya's village, Khedi, different from Mumbai?
Khedi was a peaceful village with natural sounds, where people farmed and collected forest resources, unlike the busy and expensive city life in Mumbai.
What does the chapter suggest about children working in cities?
The chapter shows that some children in cities have to work to help their families earn money, like Sidya.
What does 'No Place for Us?' imply in the context of the chapter?
It implies that for families like Jatryabhai's, who have left their homes, the new urban environment may not feel like a true home, and they struggle to find their place and stability.
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NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies — Looking Around — Chapter 18 — No Place for Us?. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.