Shivani Panchal: OPTIONAL answer copy

Various issues faced by minorities

1. They have fear of loss of identity, like ethnicity loss of tribes due to detribalisation.
2. Muslim minorities a) Rise of islamophobia (Dodellu) in world b) Declining human capital like education, health and job (Sachchar committee) c) Religious and communalism tension. (d) atrocities faced by women (Eg) Taliban in Afghanistan-
3. Parsi minority a) decreasing population due to strict outside policy. b) Genetic disease due to inbreeding
4. christain minority a) No reservation to the lower caste christains b) forced conversions in society.
5. Jainism a) Issue of inter dining due to satvik bhojan
6. Loss of languages due to rising dominance of English & Hindi especially in India
7. Access to developement in various sector like health.

Reason of these issue

1. This is not due to strength but due to lack of access to power. Eg Apartheid in South Africa
2. Scape goat theory, where they casted as reason of social issues. Eg During world war II Jewish holocaust
3. Democracy which reinforces majoritarianism
4. Divergence in the cultural and traditional values. Eg Marriage ritual
5. Historical social and economic backwardness

To address these issues followng steps could be taken

1. Access to qualitative education and employment opportunity
2. Core humane value adherence in the society.
3. Equitable distribution of resources
4. Affirmative action like social assistance, reservation etc
5. Secularism and rationalism as the social order of society.
6. Preservation of language of linguistic minority via technology.
7. Expenditure on health and access to affordable health facility.

Jawaharlal Nehru said, "The test of nation progress does not lie with what majority say but with what minority feel"

Anthony Gidden defined middle class as group of people who are placed in social hierarchial structure due to credentials and skills.

In Indian society they are nearly 35% and pay 79% tax.

changes in consumption patterns

1. As per the theory of surplus, they are outcome of excessive production which needed to be consumed by a group of people. hence increasing consumerism in them

2. Because of globalisation, the choices are expanding (Gurcharan Das); thus consumption pattern expanding (eg) consumer of sunscreen in today world have wide varities.

3. Automation/use of inanimate power led to luxury consumerism (eg) upsurge of electonics in middle class raised GST by 40% (Economic survy in electronics).

4. The fashion industry raising due to westernization, change in clothing pattern of middle class women.