In classroom activity: A Nation’s guardian

Contents

In classroom activity: A Nation’s guardian ....................................................................................... 1

Teacher’s Section ................................................................................................................................ 1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1

Expected Outcomes – ......................................................................................................................... 1

Steps for the activity ........................................................................................................................... 1

Student’s Section ................................................................................................................................. 2

Closure .................................................................................................................................................... 3

Teacher’s Section

Introduction

In continuation to Desh Apnayen’s journey of creating Alert, Informed and Active Citizens or ACTIZENs, it

is important to connect our students to their own surroundings. We all are directly or indirectly affected

by what goes around us. We cannot exist in a vacuum – all by ourselves, therefore being connected with

our national affairs and issues is as important as eating and sleeping.

Expected Outcomes –

1. Students will be able to understand the nature of current news of their country

2. Students will think and analyse their own connection with national issues

3. Students will understand the interconnectedness of different issues

Steps for the activity

• Explain to the students about the activity. This activity covers all topics ranging from social, political,

and economic aspects of India. Students will need to understand the issue, type of the issue, and

how it is linked to their own lives.

• Divide the class into groups of 4-5 and distribute the News slips.

• Ask them to read the news carefully and discuss the following within the group –

a. Type of issue/topic mentioned in the given news – Social/Political/Economic

b. How does this issue affect me or any citizen of India?

c. How this issue is connected with other 2 types of issues? For e.g., If the issue is social, then

how it is linked with political and economic aspects of the country.

• Give 5 Minutes to explain to each group about their news and their observations in the

classroom.

Student’s Section

News 1: Union Cabinet approves 10% reservation for economically weak among upper caste

The Union Cabinet has approved 10 % reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically

weak sections in the general category. This reservation will be over and above the existing 50 percent

reservation, this benefit will be availed by those whose annual income is below Rs 8 Lakh and have up to

5 acres of land. The proposed amendment enables State to make special provisions for advancement of

any economically weaker section of citizens, including reservations in educational institutions. It states

that such a reservation can be made in any educational institution, including private institutions, whether

aided or unaided, except minority educational institutions covered under Article 30(1). As regards job

reservations, the proposed Article 16(6) enables State to make provision for reservation in appointments.

It further states that the upper limit of the reservation will be ten percent.

Type of News – Social/Economic/Political

Why do you think so? -

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

News 2: Kerala turns into a war zone after women’s entry into Sabarimala temple

The Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala region in Kerala has been in the news for its controversial provision of

denying entry to women of menstruating age (ten to fifty years). This temple is located in the Periyar Tiger

Reserve in the Western Ghats mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, which happens to be

one of the most famous pilgrimage sites for Hindus. In the past three decades, this issue has drawn

resistance and protests from diverse sections of the society and has given rise to legal disputes.

The Supreme Court recently has ruled that women, of all age groups, can enter Sabarimala temple in

Kerala. The apex court said that the temple practice violates the rights of Hindu women and that banning

entry of women to shrine is gender discrimination. Two women in their 40’s entered the Lord Ayyappa

temple in Kerala becoming the first to do so since the Supreme Court ended the ban on women of

menstrual age praying at the shrine. As the news of women entering the temple spread, protests erupted

with activists blocking highways and force closure of shops and markets.

Type of News – Social/Economic/Political

Why do you think so? -

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

News 3: India’s GDP growth may improve to 7.3% in the financial year 2020

According to World Bank data, India became the world's sixth largest economy in 2017 surpassing France

and was likely to go past the UK which stood at the fifth position. The economy of India is a developing

mixed economy. It is the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the third-largest by

purchasing power parity (PPP). The country ranks 139th in per capita GDP. The long-term growth

prospective of the Indian economy is positive due to its young population, corresponding low dependency

ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and increasing integration into the global economy.

Type of News – Social/Economic/Political

Why do you think so? -

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

News 4: Anger at a plan that puts 4 million at risk of losing Indian citizenship in Assam

Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 passed in Lok Sabha seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-

Muslims communities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan were passed in the Lok Sabha recently.

Student, civil society groups hit the streets of Assam against Citizenship Bill. In Assam, illegal migrants are

not identified along religious lines and people want such migrants from Bangladesh, both Muslims, and

Hindus, who are incidentally Bengali speaking, to be deported. The Assamese fear that illegal migrants

from Bangladesh pose a threat to their cultural and linguistic identity. Proponents of the registry say it will

help root out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, but the move has prompted fears of possible deportation

among Assam's hundreds of thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Type of News – Social/Economic/Political

Why do you think so? -

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Closure

End up the activity with the common discussion about –

a. How these issues/news/policies are important to know?

b. What do they learn from other group’s news and presentation?

c. How all social, economic and political issues/news are interconnected and how they are

affecting our lives.