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Find Solutions to NCERT Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 13 “The Value of Work,” here.
Text book Page 183
The Big Questions?
1. What are the different types of activities that people engage in?
Answer:
The different types of activities that people engage in may be classified into two categories:
economic activities and non-economic activities
(i) Economic Activities
Economic activities are actions that are performed for earning money or some other forms of compensation. The aim of these activities is to generate income. For example:
A businessperson selling mobile phones
A farmer selling crops in the market
A doctor earning fees for treating patients
A truck driver transporting goods from one location to another
A school teacher earns a salary for teaching students
Workers employed in a garment factory are paid wages
(ii) Non-Economic Activities
Non-economic activities do not generate income or wealth but are performed out of feelings like thankfulness, appreciation, affection, care and respect without expecting any payment in return. For example:
Parents cooking food for the family
Parents helping their children with schoolwork
Youngsters taking care of the grandparents, family members
Family members helping in the renovation of the house, etc.
A person volunteering to teach without receiving money
Community members participating in cleaning drives or festivals
2. What is their contribution to our everyday lives?
Answer:
Both economic and non- economic activities contribute to our daily lives.
Economic activities: play a crucial role in our daily lives because they provide the things we need to live, like food, clothes, and transportation.
People who are engaged in these activities, such as farmers, shopkeepers, doctors, and factory workers, help make sure that everything runs smoothly by meeting different needs.
Economic activities also create jobs and help the economy grow. They help improve our quality of life and the country becomes stronger financially.
Non-economic activities: help to improve our everyday lives by meeting our emotional, social, and cultural needs rather than our financial needs. For example, taking care of family members, volunteering, teaching important life lessons, participating in religious practices, and helping others in the community all bring people closer together and create a caring supportive social environment.
They enrich and fulfil our lives beyond material or financial gains and enable us to create a more peaceful, close-knit and harmonious society.
Text Book Page no 185
LET’S EXPLORE
What activities did the people in Anu’s and Kabir’s story engage in? Mention them in the table given below:
| Character in the story | Activities they are engaged in | |
Answer:
| Character in the story | Activities they are engaged in | |
| Geeta Aunty | Pilot | |
| Kabir’s grandfather | Retired from BSF Provides geography classes to the neighbourhood kids Tends the vegetable garden Runs errands for the home | |
| Anu’s father | Runs a ready-made garment shop which sells uniforms | |
| Anu’s mother | Helps in the ready-made garment shop Returns home before the children return from school Teaches knitting to women of the community | |
| Anu’s brother | Works as a software engineer Volunteers to teach computer skills to those who have joined the youth development programme |
Text Book Page no 187
LET’S EXPLORE
In the table given on page 185, did you notice the third empty column? Label this column ‘economic / non-economic activity’. Now classify them according to the nature of activity.
Answer:
| Character in the story | Activities they are engaged in | Economic/ Non-economic Activity |
| Geeta Aunty | Pilot | Economic activity |
| Kabir’s grandfather | Retired from BSF Provides geography classes to the neighbourhood kids Tends the vegetable garden Runs errands for the home | Non-economic |
| Anu’s father | Runs a ready-made garment shop which sells uniforms | Economic |
| Anu’s mother | Helps in the ready-made garment shop Returns home before the children return from school Teaches knitting to women of the community | Economic (Shop work) Non-economic -taking care of children Non-economic (volunteering to teach knitting) |
| Anu’s brother | Works as a software engineer Volunteers to teach computer skills to those who have joined the youth development programme | Economic (work as software engineer) Non-economic (volunteer to teach computer skills) |
Text book Page no 187
THINK ABOUT IT
When Kabir’s grandfather voluntarily teaches the neighbourhood kids for free, is that an economic activity or a non-economic activity? How is it different from your teachers teaching you at school? Discuss with your classmates.
Answer:
When Kabir’s grandfather teaches the neighbourhood children voluntarily, it is considered a non-economic activity. This is because he does not accept any money for this activity, but does it out of kindness to help children who cannot afford to pay tuition fees. But our school teachers are engaged in an economic activity because they earn a salary for teaching us.
Teachers are paid professionals who provide high quality education. They follow a structured curriculum, with specific rules and hold regular exams. They follow formal lesson plans and ensure that students complete the syllabus. While Kabir’s grandfather teaches in an informal and relaxed environment which helps student understand their lessons without the pressure of exams.
Both the types of teaching – volunteering and professional work – are needed. While voluntary teaching builds community and offers help to those in need, formal school teaching ensures a structured, professional education for many students.
What are some non-economic activities that are important to you and your family? Why are they valuable?
Answer:
Some non-economic activities that are important to me and my family are as follows:
Caring for Family Members: Parents looking after children, helping them with homework, or grandparents sharing stories are activities which strengthen family ties and create a loving, supportive and happy home.
Celebrating Festivals and Traditions: Participating in festivals or family traditions brings everyone together and helps transmit cultural values. These activities create a sense of belonging and community.
Helping Neighbours: Lending a hand when a neighbour needs help is valuable because it helps to build a supportive neighbourhood. It encourages kindness and friendship.
Spending Time Together: Activities like playing games, having meals together, or going for walks as a family help people relax, connect, and enjoy each other’s company. This creates strong emotional bonds and happy memories.
Participating in Social Work or Charity: Helping others through charity work, such as donating clothes or volunteering at community events, teaches compassion and the importance of giving back to society. It fosters a caring community.
These non-economic activities are valuable because they focus on feelings, relationships, and shared experiences, which bring happiness, encourage kindness, and create a supportive and loving environment.
Text Book page 189
THINK ABOUT IT
On your way from home to school today, can you recall the various economic activities that people are engaged in? In what ways do you think those people are paid?
Answer:
On my way from home to school today, I observed people engaged in many economic activities. Some of them are listed below with the methods of payment:
Garbage collector:
Activity: He collects garbage from the neighbourhood dustbins and carries it in his cycle van to the nearest garbage compacting station.
Mode of Payment: He is paid a salary by the Municipal Corporation.
Street sweeper:
Activity: He sweeps dry leaves and other things that litter the roads.
Mode of Payment: He draws a salary from the Municipal Corporation.
Vegetable vendor:
Activity: He sells fresh vegetables which he brings from the whole sale market.
Mode of Payment: he is paid by his customers who buy vegetables mainly in cash or some use digital wallets to pay him.
Barber:
Activity: He cuts hair or gives people a shave.
Mode of payment: His clients pay him for his services in cash or by using a digital wallet.
Bus Driver:
Activity:He drives our school bus.
Mode of payment:He gets his wages from our school.
Auto Drivers:
Activity:He transports people along fixed routes in the city.
Mode of payment: His passengers pay him in cash.
Delivery boy:
Activity: He delivers goods ordered online by people.
Mode of payment: He is paid by the Company for each delivery made.
Newspaper vendor:
Activity: He delivers the daily newspaper.
Mode of Payment: He ia paid for each newspaper delivered usually on a monthly basis in cash or through a digital wallet.
Gardener:
Activity: He maintains the plants in the park.
Mode of Payment: He is paid a salary by the Municipal Corporation.
Construction worker:
Activity: Working on a construction site.
Mode of payment: He is paid daily wages by the labour contractor.
Tea stall owner:
Activity: Making and selling tea
Mode of Payment: His customers pay him for each cup of tea in cash.
These people help society in many ways and earn their living through their work.
Text Book page no 191
LET’S EXPLORE
Put a ✔ against those activities/professions that you think create monetary value. Can you add two activities and examples of money related value creation to the empty row at the end?
| Activity | Example of Money-related value creation |
| 1. Baker | |
| 2. Tailor | |
| 3. Farmer repairing their tractor Non-economic | |
| 4. Doctor | |
| 5. Parents cooking dinner for their family | |
| 6. Scientist | |
| 7. Person taking care of a sick grandparent | |
| 8. Goldsmith | |
| 9.Potter |
Answer:
| Activity | Example of Money-related value creation |
| 1. Baker✔ | A baker adds value by transforming flour into bread, cakes and cookies. |
| 2. Tailor✔ | A tailor adds value to cloth by making garments from cloth. |
| 3. Farmer repairing their tractor ✔ | The farmer can use the repaired tractor on his farm to continue farming so that the produce generates an income. |
| 4. Doctor✔ | The doctor uses his expertise to treat patients and earn a fee. |
| 5. Parents cooking dinner for their family | Non-economic |
| 6. Scientist✔ | A scientist may invent new things which have the potential to generate income. |
| 7. Person taking care of a sick grandparent | Non-economic |
| 8. Goldsmith✔ | A goldsmith fashions jewellery from gold bars or coins thus adding value to the gold. |
| 9.Potter✔ | A potter makes pots and water jars from clay thus adding value to the raw material i.e. clay. |
Text Book Page no 193
THINK ABOUT IT
Many communities in India have similar practices that involve community participation. Can you identify a few from your area?
Answer:
In Delhi, several community practices involve participation and collaboration. Here are a few examples:
Cleanliness Drives: Residents often arrange cleanliness drives in local parks and neighbourhoods, encouraging everyone to join in keeping the area tidy.
Festival Celebrations: During festivals like Diwali, Holi, or Eid, communities come together to decorate public spaces, organize celebrations, and share meals, fostering a sense of unity.
Tree Plantation Drives: Many local groups participate in planting trees in parks or along streets to promote environmental awareness and improve air quality.
Food Donation Drives: Communities often organize food donation drives to support those in need, especially during festivals or in times of crisis.
Health Camps: Local health organizations often hold free health check-up camps, inviting community members to participate and learn about health and wellness.
These practices help strengthen community bonds and promote a spirit of cooperation among residents in
We celebrate many festivals in India. During these festivals, people gather to organise all the various activities. They decorate the place together and share the food that they cook. Are these non-economic activities? Why do you think they still hold value?
Answer:
Yes, the activities people organise during festivals in India like decorating the place together and sharing the food they cook are considered non-economic activities. However, they are still valuable for the following reasons:
Community Bonding: Festivals draw people closer and foster friendships. Working together to organize events strengthens relationships and creates a feeling of belonging.
Cultural Heritage: Festivals often include traditional practices and decorations that showcase the culture of a community. Participating in these activities helps keep traditions alive for future generations.
Emotional Well-Being: Celebrating festivals makes people happy. Sharing experiences like decorating and cooking together helps strengthen emotional connections.
Learning Opportunities: Festivals give everyone, especially children, a chance to learn about their culture and values through different activities and rituals.
To sum up, these non-economic activities enrich our lives by promoting social welfare, a sense of belonging within the community, personal wellbeing, and in general enhancing the quality of life.
Can you identify community programmes that have been undertaken by your school or in your locality? What did you observe during these programmes?
Answer:
Here are some community programs that my school undertakes, along with my observations during these events:
Cleanliness Drives: Our school organizes cleanliness campaigns in nearby parks or streets every year. Students and community members come together to clear up litter and plant trees.
Observation: I observe that everyone works as a team to spruce up the surroundings and notice how proud people feel after cleaning and beautifying their surroundings.
Health Camps: My school sets up health camps that provide free check-ups, vaccinations, and mainly spreads awareness about hygiene and nutrition.
Observation: I can see many people eagerly attending the health camp to learn about their health, and receive guidance from doctors and volunteers.
Sports Events: My school organize sports competitions where students and local youth participate in various games.
Observation: I observe teamwork, the spirit of sportsmanship, and the joy of competing together, which builds friendships.
Charity Drives: Our school often collects clothes, books, or food for those in need.
Observation: Students enthusiastically donate and collect items, realizing the importance of helping others.
Environmental Awareness Programs: Our School also conduct workshops for environmental conservation, like tree planting or recycling.
Observation: Our students learn about the environment and how to protect it, which inspires them to take care of our scarce resources and be responsible citizens.
These programs not only help the community but also teach valuable lessons about cooperation, empathy, and responsibility.
Text Book Page no 193
Questions, activities and projects
1. How are economic activities different from non-economic activities?
Answer:
Difference Between Economic and Non-Economic Activities
Economic Activities: People do these activities to fulfil their financial needs. These are done to earn a livelihood or get something of value in return. They create jobs and help the economy grow and prosper.
For example:
A shopkeeper selling goods, a doctor treating patients for a fee, or a factory worker making products, a teacher imparting education for a livelihood
Non-Economic Activities: These activities are performed for personal satisfaction, emotional support, or social reasons, without any expectation of payment.
For example:
Parents helping their children with their homework, volunteering at a charity, youngsters looking after their grandparents.
Outcome:
Economic Activities: These activities help people earn money and make a living.
Non-Economic Activities: These activities bring personal happiness, create strong emotional bonds, and help build strong relationships, but do not include earning money.
To sum up, economic activities are mainly about earning money, while non-economic activities focus on caring, sharing, and helping selflessly without expecting payment.
2. What kind of economic activities do people engage in? Illustrate with examples.
Answer:
People engage in various economic activities, each suited to different skills and contributing to the economy. Some activities are mentioned below:
• Agriculture and Allied Activities: Many people are engaged in farming, fishing, poultry, and dairy. They sell produce like crops, fish, eggs, and milk to traders or directly to consumers to earn their living.
• Mining: Many people are employed in collieries and mines for extracting minerals like coal, iron, and petroleum, bauxite etc.
• Manufacturing: Manufacturing activities in industries, such as iron, steel, textiles, food processing and other small-scale industries, employ a large number of workers.
• Business: From wholesale traders and shop owners to hawkers and online retailers, many earn livelihoods through business activities.
• Service Sector: Skilled professionals like teachers, doctors, lawyers, and journalists provide essential services and support society’s needs.
• Transportation: This sector employs pilots, train drivers, bus operators, and taxi drivers, who ensure the movement of people and goods.
• Government Employment: Public servants and defence personnel uphold administration and security, essential to running the country.
• Domestic Work: Many, especially women, are employed as domestic helpers, providing support with household tasks, child care, and elderly care.
Each of these activities is important because they help provide the goods and services that we need in our daily lives and at the same time enable many to earn a living.
3. There is great value attached to people who are engaged in community service activities. Comment on this statement.
Answer:
People who are involved in community service activities are highly valued because they help others out of the goodness of their hearts without expecting money in return. Their considerate and well-meaning efforts bring joy in the lives of others and contribute to the well-being of the entire community.
For example, volunteers who clean up parks and plant trees, assist the elderly show kindness and care.
In many places like temples, gurudwaras, mosques, and churches, people take part in “sevā,” or selfless service. For example, in gurudwaras, they have regular “langars” or community kitchens which serve free food to everyone.
These activities help people feel grateful for what they have and are a way of giving back to the community without expecting anything in return. They build a sense of togetherness and show the importance of helping others.
These actions draw people together, forge a sense of unity, and make the community a happier and healthier place for everyone. Even though they do not seek any remuneration for their work, their contribution is incomparable in creating a caring and compassionate community.
4. What are the various ways in which people are compensated for various economic activities? Give some examples.
Answer:
People are compensated for economic activities in various ways, such as through money, goods, or services. Here are some examples:
Salaries: People working in offices, banks, schools receive regular payments for their work. For example, a teacher or an accountant gets a salary for performing their work.
Wages: People working on hourly or daily basis, such as construction workers or drivers, are paid wages based on the amount of work they do.
Profits: Business owners, such as shopkeepers, whole sellers, farmers make money by selling goods or products. For example, a farmer earns profits from selling crops.
Fees: Professionals like doctors, lawyers, or hairdressers charge a fee for their services. For example, a lawyer gets paid for giving legal advice, a doctor for treating patients and, a hairdresser for his skill in cutting and styling hair.
Commission: Sales agents earn a percentage of the sales they make. For example, real estate agents earn commission when they help sell a house, insurance agents earn commission when they sells a policy.
Rent: People who own land or buildings are paid rent by others for using their property. For example, a landlord earns rent from tenants living in their house or apartment.
Each type of compensation reflects how people are paid for their work, services, or property.
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