Assertion (A): In Siricilla, power cuts meant a cut in the wages of powerloom weavers.
Reason (R): Power sector reforms in many Indian states did away with the supply of electricity at subsidised rates.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): In Siricilla, power cuts meant a cut in the wages of powerloom weavers. — True. A power cut meant a cut in wages for the weavers.
Reason (R): Power sector reforms in many Indian states did away with the supply of electricity at subsidised rates. — True. The reforms ended subsidised electricity and raised power tariffs.
Why R does not explain A?
R explains why weavers had to pay more for power. It does not explain why a power cut lowers their wages. The real reason is that the weavers’ wages are linked to the production of cloth: no power means no cloth, and so no wages.
NCERT (2026-27): “Box 3.3: Siricilla Tragedy! Power sector reforms in many Indian states led to do away with the supply of electricity at subsidised rates and steep rise in power tariff. This has affected workers engaged in small industries. Powerloom textile industry in Andhra Pradesh is an example. Since the wages of the powerloom workers are linked to the production of cloth, power cut means cut in wages of weavers, who were already suffering from hike in tariff. …” |