Class 6 Social Science Notes Chapter 13 Exploring Society India and Beyond

The Value of Work

Swami Vivekananda’s Quote:

• • Emphasizes complete devotion to work.
  • Treat work as worship and focus entirely on it.

Story of Anu and Kabir:

• • They observe their neighbor, Geeta Aunty, an Air Force pilot, returning from work.
  • Geeta Aunty is admired for serving the country.

Types of Activities:

• • Economic Activities:
    • Involve earning money or generating income.
    • Examples: selling goods, providing services, and working in various industries.
  • Non-Economic Activities:
    • Not related to income generation.
    • Done out of love, care, or gratitude.
    • Examples: cooking for family, helping with schoolwork, and volunteering.

Examples:

• • Geeta Aunty’s work as a pilot is an economic activity.
  • Anu’s brother, Rohan, earns a salary in his software job (economic activity) and also volunteers in a youth program (non-economic activity).

Types of Economic Activities

Introduction:

• • Economic activities are actions that involve earning money or generating income. They contribute to the economy by adding value at various stages of production or services.

Kavya’s Observation During Her Visit:

• • Kavya visits her aunt’s village, Kamlapur.
  • On the way, she notices a new highway being built.
  • Large machines like excavators and bulldozers are operated by technicians.
  • The new highway will reduce travel time from five hours to two hours, making visits easier.
  • Kavya’s uncle works as a bulldozer operator for a construction company, receiving a monthly salary—this is an economic activity.

Kavya’s Aunt’s Work:

• • Kavya’s aunt works at the village post office and also receives a monthly salary.
  • In the evenings, she conducts online classes to help students prepare for exams. She charges a weekly fee—this is an additional economic activity.

Sahil’s Economic Activity:

• • Sahil, a farm laborer, works on a farmer’s land using a tractor to till the soil.
  • He earns a daily wage for his work, part in cash and part in mangoes (payment in kind).
  • This is another example of economic activity as Sahil receives compensation for his labor.

Value Addition in Economic Activities:

• • Economic activities add value at each stage of production. This is called “value addition.”
  • Example: Kavya’s father, Rajesh, buys wood for ₹600 and sells a chair for ₹1,000.
    • The difference of ₹400 represents the value added by Rajesh through his skills, time, and effort in transforming raw wood into a chair.
    • This process of adding value from raw materials to finished products involves economic activities.

Concept of Payment in Kind:

• • Payment in kind refers to receiving goods or services as compensation rather than cash.
  • Example: Sahil receiving mangoes as part of his wages.

Key Points:

• • Economic activities include a wide range of professions like construction workers, post office employees, and farm laborers.
  • These activities involve receiving payments for goods or services, which contribute to the economy.
  • Value addition is an essential aspect of economic activities, transforming raw materials into more valuable products.

The Importance of Non-Economic Activities

Non-Economic Activities:

• Do not involve money but generate significant value in life.
• Examples include acts of kindness, selfless service, and helping others.

Sevā (Selfless Service):

• • Seen in places of worship like temples, gurudwaras, mosques, and churches.
  • Langar: Community kitchens in gurudwaras provide free food to all visitors.

Benefits of Non-Economic Activities:

• • Promote satisfaction, gratitude, and social contribution.
  • Help build a sense of community without expecting anything in return.

The strength of community participation

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan:

• • A nationwide campaign based on collective efforts to maintain cleanliness.
  • Citizens clean their homes, streets, parks, and public places.
  • Results in cleaner neighborhoods, society, and the nation.

Van Mahotsav:

• • A festival celebrated in India to raise awareness about the importance of trees and forest conservation.
  • Community members participate in tree plantation drives.

Key Learnings:

• • The chapter covers economic and non-economic activities.
  • Emphasizes the value addition created by economic activities.
  • Highlights how non-economic activities improve social welfare, personal well-being, and quality of life.