Read the following news items:
Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villages depends on tankers for all their needs. Bhagavan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, irons rods and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks, constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nlmone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for lower castes.
(Adopted, from Indian Express, 'May 1, 2004.)
(a) Why was Bhagavan beaten?
(b) Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why?

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Solution

(a) Bhagvan was beaten because he insisted on the tankers being emptied in the storage tank. This was against the wishes of the upper caste people in the village.
(b) This is a clear case of caste-based discrimination. In this case, people from upper caste want to enjoy all the comforts. They also want to deny the lower caste people even the basic need of drinking water.

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Q. Read the following news items:
Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villages depend on tankers for all their needs. Bhagavan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, irons rods and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to the hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nlmone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for lower castes.
Adopted, from Indian Express, 'May 1, 2004.
Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why?

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Varsha went to her native village recently which is facing shortage of water. She found out that people in her village are basically involved in agricultural activities and use traditional methods of irrigation. They also depend on rain for most of the irrigation. In addition, they clear forests for agricultural activities. Also, a factory is being setup at a nearby site which will be drawing water from the only river beside the village. Many buildings are also being constructed for the factory. What effect do you think these activities will have on the problem of water shortage? Justify your answer. [5 MARKS]

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