Children At work Class 8 Chapter 2 Part 1 Hindi

What is the message of children at work?

Answer: The moral is that no children should work. Children who work have more money and enjoy greater freedom. Children of poor parents should be allowed to miss school and work instead.

Why did Jaya help Velu?

She knew from where to find food. She knew that one has to be careful to not get caught by the police. Jaya was also a very sensitive and kind girl as she helped Velu in all possible ways. She understood that he had run away from home as she had seen many others like him.

Who was Velu?

Velu was an eleven year old boy. He ran away from home because his father was addicted to drinking. He used to beat him and his sister and snatched whatever they earned. He came to Chennai where he met a girl of his own age.

What does the story children at work teach us?

Conclusion of Children at work

The story teaches us to behave properly with the children so that they do not take such extreme steps. It also teaches us that we shall help such children.

What is found challenging in children at work?

Answer: The challenges that people face when working in childcare: Not enough time in the day to do everything.

Do you think Jaya is brave?

Answer : Jaya is brave as she was able to sustain herself without any elders to take care of herself; this takes a big deal of courage. Jaya is sensitive as she understood the condition of Velu and offered her help even without Velu asking for it.

Why was Velu's heart beating fast?

For instance, if a person crosses a busy road without following the traffic rules, accidents may happen, and he/ she crossing the road will become chutney. Velu's heart was beating very fast on seeing a lot of vehicles moving fast.

 Velu stood on the platform but he felt “as if he was still on a moving train”. Why?

Ans. Velu stood on the platform but he  felt as if he was still on a moving train because his legs were feeling wobbly.

What made him feel miserable ?

Ans. He felt miserable because he was very much hungry and tired.

(i) Velu travelled without a ticket. Why ?

Ans. Velu had run away from his home. He had nothing with him except a shirt, a towel and a comb. He had no money to buy a ticket, so he travelled without a ticket.

(ii) How did he escape the ticket collector’s attention ?

Ans. He escaped the ticket collector’s attention because he travelled in an unreserved compartment. Luckily, the collector did not come to that compartment.

Qus 4. Why had Velu run away from home ?

Ans. Velu had run away from home because his father used to beat him everyday. His father would also spend the money earned by Velu and his sisters on drinking.

Qus 5. Why did he decide to follow the ‘strange’ girl ?

Ans. Velu knew none in Chennai. He did not know where to go and what to do. But he found the strange girl friendly to him. So he decided to follow her.

Comprehension Check:-

Qus 1. Can Velu read Tamil and English? How do you know ?

Ans. He can read  Tamil  but he can’t read  English because he reads the signboard in Tamil ‘Central Jail’. But he knew nothing what was written in English signboards.

Qus 2.  “If you are not careful, you will soon be counting bars there,” the girl said.

(i) What is she referring to ?

Ans.  She is referring to Central Jail.

(ii) What does she mean when she says “If you are not careful…”?

(She says something a little later which means the same. Find that sentence.)

Ans. The sentence is :  You don’t have to do anything , just don’t get caught.

A(i) Where did the girl lead Velu to ?

Ans. The girl led Velu behind a big hall where a big garbage was placed. It was over flowing with garbage.

(ii) What did they get to eat ?

Ans. Velu got a banana and a vada, while the girl got only one banana to eat.

What work did she do ? Think of a one-word answer.

Ans. She was a ragpicker.

Comprehension Check:-

Qus.1 (i) What material are the ‘strange’ huts made out of ?

Ans. The ‘strange’ huts were made out of metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood, and plastic.

(ii) Why does Velu find them strange?

Ans. They stood crookedly and looked as if they would fall any moment. So he finds them strange.

Qus 2. What sort of things did Jaya and children like her collect and what did they do with those things ?

Ans. Jaya and children like her collected paper, plastic, glass, and other such things. They sold these items to Jam Bazaar Jaggu.

Qus 3. Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans. No, Velu is not happy with this work. He says that he will do this work for now untill he finds a better job.

Exercise

Discuss the following questions in small groups. Write their answers afterwards.

Qus 1. Is Velu a smart boy ? Which instances in the text show that he is or isn’t ?

Ans. Yes. Velu seems to be a smart boy.He decides not to tolerate his father’s tortures any more. He runs away from his home. He reaches Chennai. There he decides to follow the strange girl who was a ragpicker. In the end of lesson he says that he will do the job of ragpicker untill he finds a better job.

Qus 2. Do you think Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour? Find instances of her courage, kind nature and humour in the text.

Ans. Yes, Jaya was a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour.She is brave because she associate herself with an unknown boy. She is sensitive as she feels Velu’s need for food. She is kind as she helps Velu find food and job. She has a sense of humour. She says to Velu,” Don’t just stand there, posing Big Hero”.

Qus 3.  What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others. Do you find this sentence meaningful in the context of this story ? How ?

Ans. This sentence is very much meaningful. In this story we come to know that Jaya collects the waste material thrown away by others and sells it to Jam Bazaar Jaggu and earns money for her family. She picks up a thrown away smashed banana and a Vada. She gives these two items to Velu to eat. She also pick up one banana from the rubbish bin and eats it up.