Family and Community-Community Social Science Class 6 In English-CBSE Notes

Chapter 9. Family and Community – Notes 2

Community

A community is a group of connected people who come together for different purposes and support one another.

• Families are connected not only within themselves but also with other families and people around them.
• A group of connected people may be called a community.
• The meaning of community can change according to the context.
• Community members come together for festivals, feasts, weddings and other events.
• In villages, people may cooperate in agricultural activities.
• Community members may help one another in land preparation, sowing and harvesting.
• Cooperation makes difficult tasks easier for everyone.

Shared Natural Resources

• Communities often develop practices for using shared natural wealth and resources.
• Important shared resources include water, grazing lands and forest produce.
• Such practices are found among many tribal communities.
• Similar practices continue to some extent in village communities in rural India.
• These practices may be considered community rules.
• Such rules were often not written down.
• They helped communities get secure access to shared resources.
• At the same time, every family and individual had specific duties to perform.
• Without cooperation and responsibility, the community cannot function smoothly.

Community Rules and Responsibilities

• Community rules help people use shared resources properly.
• Rules can prevent the misuse or overuse of common resources.
• Every community member has certain duties.
• Members must cooperate for the smooth functioning of the community.
• Community rules may be based on long-established practices and traditions.
• Following common rules creates cooperation and harmony.

Halma Tradition

Halma is a tradition of the Bhil community in which people come together to support an individual or family during a crisis.

• The Bhil community follows the tradition of coming together to help people in times of crisis.
• The region around Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh suffered from an acute water crisis.
• The Bhils decided to work together to address the water crisis.
• They planted thousands of trees in hundreds of villages.
• They dug trenches to conserve rainwater.
• They created other water-harvesting structures.
• They did not receive payment for this work.
• They considered this work their duty towards the community and the environment.
• The objective of the Halma tradition is to serve Mother Earth.
• The example demonstrates cooperation, duty, selfless service and environmental responsibility.
• In 2019, Shri Mahesh Sharma of the Shivganga movement was honoured with the Padma Shri for his transformational work with Bhil communities.

Community Support During Disasters

• Community support becomes especially important during natural disasters and emergencies.
• During the Chennai floods of 2015, roads turned into rivers.
• People could no longer move around normally.
• Many shops were closed and services were interrupted.
• Many private groups came forward to help affected people.
• Spiritual and religious organisations cooked large quantities of food.
• They distributed food to people who needed it.
• This is an example of people working together for the benefit of the community.
• Such service was provided without expecting anything in return.

Community Service

Community service means helping other people or working for the benefit of the community without expecting personal gain.

• Community service may be performed by individuals or groups.
• It can involve helping people during emergencies.
• It can also involve education, environmental protection or other forms of social support.
• Selfless service strengthens the bonds within a community.
• Community service reflects values such as cooperation, care and responsibility.

Example – Kamal Parmar

• Kamal Parmar owned a small auto-fabrication workshop in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• He noticed underprivileged children on the streets.
• Some children had dropped out of school, while others had never attended school.
• Kamal started giving them tuition after his regular working hours.
• He taught the children from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm every day.
• He also provided them with free dinner.
• Soon around 150 children attended his classes regularly.
• Teachers from a local school also joined the initiative for some time.
• Older school-going children joined as volunteers and helped teach the younger children.
• The example shows care, compassion, service and concern for the community.
• It also shows that people can contribute to society according to their abilities.
• The children and volunteers also learnt from one another.

Education and Community Responsibility

• Every child should have access to education.
• Society has a responsibility to support children who lack educational opportunities.
• Community members can contribute through teaching, volunteering and providing necessary support.
• Community initiatives can help reduce inequalities in access to education.
• Helping children receive education benefits both individuals and society.

Urban Communities

• Community life exists in both rural and urban areas.
• Urban communities may function somewhat differently from rural communities.
• New types of communities have emerged in urban areas during the last few decades.
• Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) are examples of modern urban communities.
• Residents of an area participate in making rules and regulations.
• These rules may deal with waste management.
• They may deal with cleanliness of common areas.
• They may also include rules concerning the care of pets.
• Such rules help residents manage common needs and spaces.

Residents' Welfare Associations

A Residents' Welfare Association is an organisation of residents that works for the common needs and welfare of people living in an area.

• Residents participate in making rules and regulations.
• Rules may concern waste management and cleanliness.
• Common areas can be managed collectively.
• Residents can cooperate to solve common problems.
• They can also make decisions regarding matters affecting the neighbourhood.

Interdependence of Communities

Interdependence means depending on one another for different needs.

• Communities are ultimately interdependent.
• No community can fulfil all its needs completely by itself.
• An urban Residents' Welfare Association may depend on traders for supplies.
• It may depend on municipal workers for waste management.
• Residents depend on many workers and service providers in their daily lives.
• Different occupations and communities provide different goods and services.
• Modern society therefore depends on many people and communities.
• Interdependence makes cooperation between different groups necessary.

Community – A Flexible Concept

The word community can have different meanings depending on the context.

• A group of people living in the same locality may form a community.
• A jāti or a subdivision of it may also be called a community.
• People belonging to a particular religion may form a community.
• People belonging to a particular region may form a community.
• People engaged in the same type of work may form a community.
• People sharing a common interest may form a community.
• Communities may be large or small.
• A person can belong to several communities at the same time.

Examples of Different Communities

• Mumbai's Parsi community – A religious community.
• Chennai's Sikh community – A religious community.
• America's Indian community – A community based on common origin or identity.
• Kerala's scientific community – A community based on common work or profession.
• School's art community – A community based on common interest.
• Village farming community – A community based on common occupation.

Communities in School

• A student can be part of several communities in school.
• The class itself can be considered a community.
• Students may also belong to a sports community.
• Students may participate in the National Service Scheme (NSS).
• Students may participate in the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
• Science clubs and drama clubs can also form communities.
• Members of these groups share common interests and activities.

Family and Community – Relationship

Important Values in Community Life

• Cooperation – Working together for a common purpose.
• Responsibility – Performing one's duties towards others.
• Service – Helping others without expecting personal benefit.
• Sharing – Sharing resources and opportunities.
• Care – Being concerned about the needs of others.
• Respect – Treating others with dignity.
• Selflessness – Helping others without expecting something in return.
• Environmental Responsibility – Protecting Nature and natural resources.

Important Definitions

Important Facts to Remember

• ✔ Community is a group of connected people.
• ✔ Communities may come together for festivals, weddings, feasts and other events.
• ✔ Rural communities may cooperate in agricultural activities.
• ✔ Water, grazing lands and forest produce can be shared natural resources.
• ✔ Community rules help ensure secure access to shared resources.
• ✔ Every community member has certain duties and responsibilities.
• ✔ Halma is an important tradition of the Bhil community.
• ✔ Bhils used collective action to address the water crisis around Jhabua.
• ✔ Tree plantation and rainwater conservation were important parts of this effort.
• ✔ The objective of Halma is to serve Mother Earth.
• ✔ Community support was visible during the Chennai floods of 2015.
• ✔ Kamal Parmar helped underprivileged children by providing tuition and free dinner.
• ✔ Urban communities include Residents' Welfare Associations.
• ✔ RWAs may make rules about waste management, cleanliness and pets.
• ✔ Communities depend on other communities for goods and services.
• ✔ Community is a flexible concept.
• ✔ A community can be based on religion, region, occupation or common interest.
• ✔ Students can belong to several communities in school.
• ✔ Ultimately, communities are interdependent.

Quick Revision

• Community → Group of connected people.
• Shared Resources → Water, grazing lands, forest produce, etc.
• Community Rules → Practices for proper use of common resources.
• Halma → Bhil tradition of collective support.
• Jhabua → Example of community action for water conservation.
• Chennai Floods 2015 → Example of community support during a disaster.
• Kamal Parmar → Example of community service through education.
• RWA → Modern urban community organisation.
• Interdependence → Communities depend on one another.
• Community Types → Religious, regional, occupational, interest-based and other communities.

Exam Booster

• Learn the definition and role of a community.
• Understand the importance of shared natural resources.
• Remember why communities need rules and responsibilities.
• Study the Halma tradition of the Bhil community carefully.
• Remember the example of Jhabua's water conservation efforts.
• Remember the Chennai floods of 2015 as an example of community support.
• Study Kamal Parmar's initiative and its values.
• Understand the role of Residents' Welfare Associations.
• Learn the meaning of interdependence with examples.
• Remember that community is a flexible concept.
• Prepare examples of communities based on religion, region, occupation and common interest.

All Topics Chapter Family and Community

• 1. Chapter Review and Key Points
• 2. Family
• 3. Community
• 4. Assignments - What Have You Learned?