Civics | Social Science 7th Std

Summary:

This chapter traces the journey of a simple shirt, from the cotton fields where it begins to the shop where you buy it. It shows how many different people are involved in the process and how each step involves buying and selling in a market. We also learn that not everyone benefits equally from this system.

Key Points:

• Long Journey: A shirt travels a long way, from a cotton farm to a ginning mill, then to a spinning mill, then to weavers, then to garment factories, and finally to shops!
• Many People, Many Jobs: Many people play a role in making a shirt, including farmers, traders, factory workers, and shopkeepers.
• Not Always Fair: Sadly, some people in the chain, like farmers and weavers, work very hard but earn very little money, while others, like factory owners and shop owners, make bigger profits.

Q1: What made Swapna sell the cotton to the trader instead of selling at the Kurnool cotton market?

A1: Swapna had to borrow money from the trader at the beginning of the season to buy seeds and other farming essentials. The trader made her promise to sell her cotton to him as a condition for the loan. This put Swapna in a difficult position because she needed the money but also knew the trader would likely pay her a lower price.

Q2: Describe the conditions of employment as well as the wages of workers in the garment exporting factory. Do you think the workers get a fair deal?

A2: Workers in the garment factory, mostly women, often work on a temporary basis, meaning they can be let go anytime. The wages are low, with tailors earning the most (around Rs 3,000 per month) and those doing tasks like buttoning and ironing earning much less. Given the hard work and long hours, it seems the workers are not getting a fair deal.

Q3: Think of something common that we use. It could be sugar, tea, milk, pen, paper, pencil, etc. Discuss through what chain of markets this reaches you. Can you think of the people that help in the production or trade?

A3: Let's take the example of milk:

1. Dairy Farmers: Farmers raise cows and milk them.
2. Collection Centers: Milk is collected from farms and taken to processing centers.
3. Processing Plants: Milk is pasteurized, packaged, and sometimes turned into other products like butter or cheese.
4. Distributors: Processed milk is sent to distributors in different areas.
5. Retailers: Shops and supermarkets buy milk from distributors and sell it to us.

At each step, many people are involved, from the farmers and milk collectors to factory workers, truck drivers, and shopkeepers.

Q4: Arrange the statements given alongside in the correct order and then fill in the numbers in the cotton bolls accordingly. The first two have already been done for you.

A4:

1. Swapna sells the cotton to the trader.
2. Customers buy these shirts in a supermarket.
3. Trader sells cotton to the Ginning Mill. (9)
4. Ginning mill cleans the cotton and makes it into bales. (3)
5. Spinning mill buys the cotton and sells yarn to the yarn dealers. (7)
6. Yarn dealers or merchants give the yarn to the weavers. (5)
7. Weavers return with the cloth. (8)
8. Garment exporters buy the cloth from merchants for making shirts. (4)
9. The exporter sells shirts to the businessperson from the USA. (6)

Additional Questions:

Q1: What are the key factors driving the market dynamics in the cotton to shirt supply chain?

A1: Several factors influence how this market works:

• Global Demand: Foreign buyers, especially in the US and Europe, create a large demand for shirts, which drives the entire chain.
• Power of Buyers: Big foreign businesses have significant power, demanding low prices and high quality from garment exporters.
• Profit Seeking: Each person in the chain aims to make a profit, which influences the prices they set and the wages they pay.
• Debt and Dependence: Small farmers like Swapna often fall into debt, forcing them to accept low prices from traders.

Q2: How does the power dynamic between producers, merchants, and exporters shape profit distribution?

A2: There's a clear imbalance of power:

• Exporters and Merchants: They hold more power than farmers and weavers, often dictating prices and terms.
• Producers (Farmers/Weavers): They have little bargaining power and often receive low prices for their hard work.
• Unequal Profits: This power dynamic results in larger profits for exporters and merchants while producers struggle to make ends meet.

Q3: What are the consequences of market inequalities on individuals and communities involved in the cotton to shirt supply chain?

A3: These inequalities have serious consequences:

• Poverty and Exploitation: Low earnings and poor working conditions for farmers and workers can trap them in poverty.
• Limited Opportunities: The lack of fair prices makes it difficult for producers to invest in their businesses or improve their living standards.
• Social Disparity: The gap between the rich (exporters, business owners) and the poor (farmers, workers) widens, creating social tensions.

Q4: What is a cooperative and how can it help producers like Swapna and the weavers?

A4: A cooperative is like a team effort! It's when people with similar interests, like farmers or weavers, come together to work for their mutual benefit. They can buy materials together, get better prices, and even market their products together, reducing their dependence on traders and increasing their earnings.

Q5: Why is it important to think about fairness in the market?

A5: A fair market means everyone gets a just price for their goods and services. When some people earn huge profits while others struggle, it creates problems like poverty and inequality. We should strive for a market where everyone benefits fairly from their hard work.