Class IX - People As Resource

Questions Within The Lesson

Q.1. Looking at the photograph (as given in the textbook) can you explain how a doctor,

a teacher, a engineer and a tailor are an asset to the economy?

Ans. Doctors, teachers, engineers and tailors are assets to the economy because of their existing

skills and abilities.

Q.2. Do you notice any difference between the two friends? What are those?

Ans. Difference between two friends — Sakal and Vilas

(i) Sakal’s parents wanted him to study, while Vilas’s mother cannot afford to send him to

school. Moreover, Vilas was a patient of arthritis.

(ii) Sakal was meritorious and interested in studies, while Vilas wasn’t.

(iii) Sakal completed his vocational course in computer and got a well paid job, while Vilas

was faced to sell fish like his mother.

(iv) Sakal earns a good amount of money, while Vilas earns only a meagre income.

Q.3. Say whether these activities are economic or non-economic activities : Vilas sells fish in

the village market. Vilas cooks food for his family. Sakal works in a private firm. Sakal

looks after his younger brother and sister.

Ans. (a) It is an economic activity, as it involves remuneration.

(b) It is a non-economic activity, as it is a domestic service.

(c) It is an economic activity, as it is done in expectation of monetary reward.

(d) It is a non-economic activity, as it is done out of love and affection.

Q.4. (a) Has the literacy rate of the population increased since 1951?

(b) In which year India had the highest literacy rates?

(c) Why literacy rate is high among the males of India?

(d) Why are women less educated than men?

(e) How would you calculate literacy rate in India?

(f) What is your projection about India’s literacy rate in 2010?

Ans. (a) Yes. (b) In 2001.

(c) Males in India are provided better educational opportunities.

(d) Because of sex discrimination, females are not treated at par with males. Females are not

provided equal educational opportunities.

(e) Literacy Rate =

Total literate people in the age group of 17 years and above

Total number of people in the age group of 17 years and above

(f) India’s literacy rate may rise to nearly 75 percent.

Table 2.1 : Number of institutions of higher education, enrolment and facility

Year          Number of          Number of            Students               Teachers

                 Colleges             Universities

1950–51      750                      30                       2,63,000             24,000

1990–91      7,345                 177                       49,25,000           2,72,000

1996–97      9,703                 214                       67,55,000           3,21,000

1998–99     11,089                238                       74,17,000           3,42,000

Q.5. Discuss this table in the classroom and answer the following questions.

1. Is the increase in number of colleges adequate to admit the increasing number of students?

2. Do you think we should have more number of universities?

3. What is the increase noticed among the teachers in the year 1998-99.

4. What is your idea about future colleges and universities?

Ans. 1. Yes. 2. No.

3. The number of teachers in 1998-99 increased by 21,000m when compared with that in

1996–97.

4. The number of colleges and universities in future will increase.

Q.6. Table 2.2 : Health infrastructure over the years.

                                                     1951                  1981                      2001

SC/PHC/CHC                               725                   57,363                 1,63,181

Dispensaries and Hospitals             9,209                23,555                    43,322

Beds                                             1,17,198            5,69,495               8,70,161

Doctors (Allopathy)                        61,800              2,68,700               5,03,900

Nursing Personnel                         18,054               1,43,887               7,37,000

Study the Table 2.2 and answer the following questions.

1. What is the percentage increase in dispensaries from 1951 to 2001?

2. What is the percentage increase in doctors and nursing personnel from 1951 to 2001?

3. Do you think the increase in the number of doctors and nurses adequate for India?

If not, why?

4. What other facilities would you like to provide in a hospital?

5. Discuss about the hospital you have visited?

6. Can you draw a graph using this table?

Ans. 1. 370 per cent

2. 715 per cent increase in case of doctors and 3982 per cent in case of nursing personnel.

3. No, because the number of doctors and nurses per thousand of population is very low

compared to advanced countries.

4. There should be sufficient number of doctors, nurses and beds in a hospital. Besides, a

hospital must be equipped with all modern facilities.

5. I have visited a MCD hospital in Delhi. The hospital had all basic facilities.