NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies Looking Around: Chapter 22 — On the Move Again
Chapter 22, 'On the Move Again' from NCERT's Class 5 Environmental Studies book 'Looking Around', details the seasonal migration of families like Dhanu's in search of work. The chapter highlights how families work on big farmers' lands until Dussehra, after which they face six months without rain and work. To manage, they borrow money from a 'mukadam' (an agent) who arranges work for them in sugarcane fields. The text touches upon the cycle of debt and migration, prompting students to think about the challenges faced by such families and the importance of irrigation for farming. It encourages discussion on borrowing, loans, and the difficulties of finding work, emphasizing the economic realities of rural life and the dependence on agricultural cycles.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 5 |
| Subject | Environmental Studies |
| Book | Looking Around |
| Chapter | Chapter 22 — On the Move Again |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 481 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the concept of seasonal migration for work.
- Identify the challenges faced by families dependent on agriculture.
- Learn about the role of agents (mukadams) in rural economies.
- Discuss the importance of irrigation in farming.
- Recognize the cycle of borrowing, debt, and work.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dussehra | A major Hindu festival celebrated in autumn. |
| Bullockcarts | A cart pulled by bullocks, used for transport. |
| Jaggery | An unrefined sugar made from sugarcane or palm sap. |
| Gram | A type of pulse, often used in Indian cuisine. |
| Mukadam | An agent who lends money and arranges work. |
| Loan | Money borrowed that is expected to be paid back. |
| Debt | Money owed. |
| Sugarcane | A tall grass with a fibrous stalk from which sugar is extracted. |
| Irrigation | The supply of water to land or crops to help growth. |
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Practice questions
- Who is Dhanu's father in the family? Answer: Dhanu's father is the eldest in the family.
- What sweet dish is made by the women in Dhanu's village during Dussehra? Answer: Puranpoli (sweet rotis made from jaggery and gram) is made.
- Who is a 'mukadam' and what is his role? Answer: A mukadam is an agent who lends money and helps villagers find work, often in sugarcane factories.
- Why do families like Dhanu's have to leave their village for six months? Answer: They leave their village in search of work because there is no rain and no work in the fields for six months.
- What kind of work do they find in the other places? Answer: They find work in sugarcane fields.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of NCERT Class 5 EVS Chapter 22?
The chapter 'On the Move Again' focuses on seasonal migration of families in search of work, particularly those dependent on agriculture.
Who is Dhanu and what is his family's routine?
Dhanu is a child whose family, like many others in his village, migrates for work for six months of the year when there is no farming work due to lack of rain.
What is a 'mukadam' in the context of the chapter?
A mukadam is an agent who lends money to the villagers and arranges work for them, often in sugarcane fields, to help them survive the months without agricultural work.
Why do families borrow money from the mukadam?
They borrow money to manage their expenses during the six months when there is no work in the fields due to lack of rain.
What is the significance of Dussehra in the chapter?
Dussehra is a festival celebrated by Dhanu's family and relatives before they have to leave their village for work, marking the end of the farming season.
What does the chapter suggest about farming without rain?
The chapter prompts students to think about farming without rain, hinting at the importance and possibility of irrigation methods.
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NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies — Looking Around — Chapter 22 — On the Move Again. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.