RURAL LIVELIHOOD

Q1. you have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. list five of these.

Ans.

• Making baskets, utensils
• Teaching
• Weaving
• Washing clothes
• Repairing cycle

Q2. list the different types of people you read about in Kalpattu who depend on farming. who is the poorest among them and why?

Ans. These people are Thulasi, Sekar and Ramalingam. Thulasi is the poorest among them because she has no land of her own and she earns only 40 rupees per day.

Q3. Imagine you are a member of a fishing family and you are discussing whether to take a loan from the bank for an engine. what would you say?

Ans. i think that it is better to take a loan from a bank because moneylenders usually charge high rate of interest.

Q4. Poor rural labourers like Thulasi often do not have access to good medical facilities, schools and other resources. you have read about inequality in the first unit of this text. the difference between her and Ramalingam is one of inequality. do you think this is a fair situation? What do you think can be done? Discuss in the class.

Ans. No, this is not a fair situation. there should be a ceiling of land. primary education should be made compulsory.

Q5. What do you think the government can do to help farmers like Sekar when they get into debt? discuss.

Ans. Government can provide assistance to farmers like Sekar, interest free loan or loan on low interest rate, which can help him. seeds, fertilizers and pesticides can also be provided to him on subsidised rate.

Q6. Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table.