Following are some questions/comments that you have received from your students in a class. Which question reflects the student's ability to critically look at the issue of poverty and inequality ?
Why is it that luxury cars and beggars can both be seen at traffic signals ?
Social science teaching under NCF 2005 aims to develop critical thinking: learners should question social realities, notice contradictions in everyday life and look for structural causes of problems such as poverty and inequality, instead of repeating stereotypes or blaming individuals.
Asking why luxury cars and beggars appear together at the same traffic signal shows a learner who has observed extreme wealth and extreme deprivation side by side and is questioning why such unequal distribution exists. The question opens an enquiry into the causes of inequality, which is critical engagement with the issue.
Asking why poor people do not work harder blames the poor and reflects a stereotype rather than analysis. Asking when India will become developed and free of poverty is a general, speculative question that does not examine causes. Asking whether free goods make the poor lazy again rests on a prejudice about the poor instead of examining the structural roots of poverty.
Why is it that luxury cars and beggars can both be seen at traffic signals ? option is correct.
