ACTIZEN Activity 12

1. Explain the topic to the class with the help of the Introduction paragraph and the chart given in the annexure. Discuss if the students in the class are aware of/have read about any bill recently passed in Parliament. Ask them what they remember about the same.
2. To start the activity, divide the class into groups of 4-5 students. Ask them to discuss the task and come up with a draft bill in the next 15-20 minutes.
3. Explain that they will be working with their group members on preparing a bill on a given topic.

4.Assign one topic to each group:

1. 1. Pollution – Your city/village has a lot of air pollution due to a new factory that opened recently and the construction work is still going on. Residents of the locality are disturbed due to the same.
   2. Caste-based reservations in higher education – Your state has a 40% reserved quota for students from certain groups. General category seats are very limited and the students are not getting opportunities to get admission in good colleges.
   3. Code of conduct in the Parliament (Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha) – A new bill for farmers’ benefit is getting introduced in the Lok sabha and a few members fought over some personal comments and walked out of the Parliament. This is a very frequent practice in both the houses and all public benefit bills are delayed in your country.
   4. Corruption in Elections – State assembly elections are on the way and contestants are doing campaigns and rallies in your area. A majority of them are giving bribes to citizens in the form of job offers, money, etc. Deserving candidates are suffering due to this.
   5. Child marriage – Child marriage is a usual practice in your village. Children are getting married at the age of 14-16 and many girls are facing severe health issues and malnutrition. Law maintaining bodies are not doing much about the same.

5. The students can use the following guidelines to make the bill:

1. 1. Discuss the topic in your respective groups, and ask the following questions- Why is it important to discuss? What are the major problems in India? What are the possible solutions for the same?
   2. Draft a bill on the given topic with the help of the following pointers –

• Topic –
• Five possible reasons for the problem.
•  State any top 5 solutions which should be implemented.
• Prepare a strong statement of purpose to introduce these 5 solutions.
• What will be the fine/punishment for breaking the rules? 

6. Share the following example with them –

1. Topic – Waste management – There is a huge garbage dump in front of the school gate. The school is not implementing the waste segregation rules in the campus. Students are throwing trash in the classroom and the playground frequently. No dustbins are placed there.
2. Possible reasons –

• No rules for waste segregation.
• Poor collection system.
• Students are not behaving responsibly.
• No dustbins available. 

     3.  5 solutions to be included in the bill -

• Waste segregation at the source (Classrooms, canteen, playground, etc.)
• Dustbins should be put up on each floor – 2 in each classroom.
• An orientation programme related to waste segregation should be part of the curriculum.
• Fines and punishments for using polythene bags.

     4. Statement of purpose for the bill -

India is generating tons of waste every year. It goes into landfills and water bodies which is harmful for the environment. We should all contribute to keep our environment safe and clean. Waste segregation and management can be the first step towards this goal.

      5. Punishment and fines -

Each class will be fined Rs. 500/month if the practice of waste segregation is not found in place during the inspection.

Use of polythene bags is banned in the school and every individual will be fined with Rs. 50 if they are found using polythene bags in the school campus.

6. One by one, invite the groups to present the findings of their discussion. Ask other classmates to vote either in favour of or against the bill by raising their hands after each presentation. Count the votes and if the votes are 75% or more in favour of the bill, then declare the bill as passed.

In case any bill fails to get upto 75% votes from the class, invite amendments from the classmates and declare the bill as not passed.

7. Ask each team to fill up a reflection sheet after the activity to share their learning experiences.
8. Teachers should fill up the feedback form after conducting the activity.