Ncert Solutions for Class 12 Sociology Chapter 5: Change and Development in Industrial Society questions and answers
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Sociology |
| Chapter | Chapter 5 |
| Chapter Name | Change and Development in Industrial Society ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
Are you looking for Sociology Class 12 chapter 5 questions and answers? Now you can download Change and Development in Industrial Society questions and answers pdf from here.
Question 1: Choose any occupation you see around you – and describe it along the following lines: a) social composition of the work force – caste, gender, age, region; b) labour process – how the work takes place, c) wages and other benefits, d) working conditions – safety, rest times, working hours, etc.
Answer 1: Example Occupation: Street Vendor (Fruit Seller)
a) Social Composition of the Workforce
- Caste: Most street vendors in India belong to lower castes or marginalized communities, often lacking formal education and economic resources. However, caste composition may vary regionally.
- Gender: Both men and women engage in street vending, but men often dominate mobile vending, while women are more likely to operate stationary stalls.
- Age: The workforce spans a wide range of ages, from teenagers helping their families to older adults running stalls as a primary livelihood.
- Region: Vendors often migrate from rural areas or smaller towns to cities in search of better opportunities, with a mix of local and migrant workers.
b) Labour Process
- Work Routine: Vendors source fruits early in the morning from wholesale markets. They transport their goods to specific selling locations, often on pushcarts or makeshift stalls.
- Tasks: Sorting, displaying, weighing, and selling the fruits are core activities. Negotiating with customers is also a key part of the process.
- Family Involvement: Many vendors rely on family members for help, especially during peak hours or seasons.
c) Wages and Other Benefits
- Earnings: Daily income varies based on location, product quality, and demand, ranging from ₹200 to ₹1,000 or more.
- Benefits: Most street vendors lack formal employment benefits like health insurance, pensions, or paid leave. Some may benefit from government schemes, such as vending licenses or low-interest loans under the PM SVANidhi Yojana.
d) Working Conditions
- Safety: Vendors face risks from harsh weather, road accidents, and harassment by authorities or local goons. There is little to no physical safety infrastructure.
- Rest Times: Rest breaks are irregular and depend on customer flow. Vendors typically eat on-site and rarely have designated rest periods.
- Working Hours: Most vendors work long hours, from early morning until late evening (10–12 hours a day).
- Hygiene: Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is often limited, leading to unhygienic conditions.
- Legal Challenges: Vendors frequently face eviction, fines, or confiscation of goods due to lack of legal vending rights in certain areas.
Question 2: How has liberalisation affected employment patterns in India?
Answer 2: Liberalization, introduced in India in 1991, significantly transformed employment patterns across sectors. Here are the key impacts:
1. Shift from Agriculture to Services and Industry
- Pre-liberalization: The majority of India’s workforce was engaged in agriculture.
- Post-liberalization: There was a gradual shift toward services and industrial sectors due to increased opportunities in manufacturing, IT, telecommunications, and finance.
- Reason: Policies like reduced trade barriers and encouragement of foreign investment spurred industrial and service-sector growth.
2. Expansion of the Informal Sector
- Liberalization led to the growth of small-scale industries, self-employment, and contract-based jobs, contributing to a rise in informal employment.
- Many new jobs lacked job security, benefits, and regulated working conditions.
3. Rise of Private Sector Employment
- Reduced government intervention and privatization created opportunities in private enterprises, especially in sectors like banking, retail, and infrastructure.
- Employment shifted from public to private domains, emphasizing merit-based recruitment.
4. Growth of the IT and Services Sector
- Liberalization policies facilitated the growth of IT and software services, making India a global hub for outsourcing and call centers.
- This created a large number of skilled jobs, particularly for educated urban youth.
5. Globalization of Labor Market
- Indian professionals, especially in IT and healthcare, found increased opportunities abroad.
- At the same time, foreign companies began hiring local talent, leading to a more competitive labor market.
6. Casualization of Labor
- Increased competition forced businesses to adopt cost-cutting measures, leading to a rise in temporary, part-time, and contractual employment.
- This trend contributed to job insecurity and wage disparities.
7. Regional Disparities
- Urban areas and states with better infrastructure (like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu) benefited significantly, attracting investments and creating jobs.
- Rural areas and less-developed states saw slower growth in employment opportunities.
8. Skill Polarization
- Liberalization increased demand for highly skilled and educated workers, while unskilled laborers faced limited opportunities and stagnant wages.
- This widened the gap between skilled and unskilled workers.
9. Increase in Women’s Workforce Participation
- Liberalization opened up new employment opportunities for women, particularly in IT, banking, retail, and education sectors.
- However, challenges like wage gaps and gender-based discrimination persisted.