For example, people of hunting era had spent a collective life and worked in cooperation to fulfill their food requirements and their basic needs.

In nomadic era, those collective activities expanded further, since they had to go in search of grasslands for animal rearing and exchange animal products.

With the development of agricultural activities, the need for preparing lands, cultivating, harvesting, exchanging goods, and other services became complex. There they worked more with social groups and institutions. Therefore it could be noticed that development took place as an agrarian peasant society. Society became more complex with the enhancement of industrial knowledge and the skills of making and using goods. It was expanded further on the basis of producing goods, extracting resources, trade and consumption. With the modern technological era, this situation has become more complex.

Thus, when we consider the eras of early human civilization, it is obvious that the human society has had its beginning in a simple level and developed into a complex nature. During these eras, the family which is the smallest unit of the society has been subject to several changes. Owing to those changes in families, the whole society has also changed relatively.

Inter-relationships in the society

A human society exists or becomes successful, only if it has good inter-relationships. This inter-relationship should be there between mother and father, while the same kind of relationship should be maintained among children and relatives too.Whenever the relationship within the family is strong, inter-family relationships will also be strengthened. Thus when a strong relationship is built among the families, the whole society becomes inter connected with strong bonds

Accordingly, the inter relationships in a human society can be indicated as follows:

Inter-relationships between parents and children

Family is the main source which produces the people needed for the existence of the society. The modern civilized society has identified a mechanism for the upbringing of children after a legal marriage. There, the parents maintain relationships with their children by fulfilling their obligations such as feeding, safeguarding, providing education, helping to satisfy other needs, protecting from diseases and settling them in marriage. It is the responsibility of children to be accountable of such parents and utilize all those privileges fruitfully. Children are also supposed to fulfill some duties towards their parents.

Looking after the parents when they are old, feeding them, showing affection and being obedient to them are some of the duties to be performed in order to maintain a good relationships between the two parties.

Today, the commitment of some towards this is insufficient. Since it is not good for the well being of society, parents and children should maintain good inter relationships as citizens.

Inter – relationship between teachers and students

Being brought up in the family, the children’s next step is to join school. Teachers facilitate them as parents, when they are in the school. It is the duty of the teachers to build the future of the child by making him / her obedient, while identifying talents, skills and potentials.

They also contribute to build up a balanced personality by giving them all sorts of knowledge and wisdom and making them realize good and bad, right and wrong. Therefore it is essential to maintain teacher – student relations correctly, in order to ensure the existence of human society.

Inter-relationship with neighbours

Neighbours maintain close relationships with a family. We should maintain some good human qualities such as being peaceful, brotherhood, cooperation, helping others, giving refuge and sharing things. Thus, if we maintain cordial relationships with neighbours we can keep friendly human ties. Only those who have such qualities can ensure a society with co-existence. The society becomes restless and chaotic due to poor relationships with the neighbours.

Maintaining inter-relationship with social institutions

There are different types of social institutions formed to fulfill various needs of people. Religious, government, private and all other institutions have been formed to ensure the well-being of people. Therefore, it is important to build up cordial and friendly human relationships with these institutions by actively participating in their activities. The nature of inter-relationship you maintain with these institutions may decide your relationship with them. Since all these institutions are directed towards you, it is important to maintain good relationships with them.

These types of organizations are there in your area. It is important for people to conduct close relationships with all these organizations. Since they have been formed for the needs of people in your area, it is the duty of all to attend and maintain good relationships with them.

Using data and information for the wellbeing of the society

Data means the sources which provide information related to a scope of a subject. A specific idea can be expressed correctly through this. Data is collected for a specific purpose. Modern world is full of data and information. A large number of media are available to get information in this modern world.

It is important to use data and information correctly and rationally, for self and social needs. We should work wisely when using the internet and social media without going astray or being a slave to information. Since it is easy to gather information, we must use them fruitfully for educational purposes.

Need of data and information

Tharumi and Tharindu witnessed an accident on their way back home from school. After the accident, the bus went fast without stopping. However, Tharindu noted the number of the vehicle in his mind. After that, people in the area rushed to the spot and took the student to the hospital. Tharindu gave the number of the vehicle which committed the accident to the police officer who came there for the inquiry. The police officer thanked and praised Tharindu for the support given for his duty.

-- What is the most important task done by Tharindu regarding the above incident?

We have to face different incidents in our day to day life. Data and information are important to face those incidents. If we have correct information, we can do all our affairs easily, while minimizing problems.

Data and information are not only written and spoken forms, but the experiences we get in our life also belong to them. If we have prior experience, we can face incidents, problems or a challenge easily.

Accordingly it is important to use the data and information available fruitfully for man as well as for the society. It should be made a habit in life.

Media presents much information on economic and social needs of people.

Essential information we obtain in our day to day life

• Weather forecast

• Exchange rates

• Market prices

• Important and emergency phone numbers

E.g.- 1919 – state information Centre

119 – emergency call bureau

• Advertisements

• Classifiedes

• Government’s announcements

• Information on employments

Media presents different types of information. There can be doubts about exaggerations, falsehood, faithfulness, etc. Therefore we must be rational in using information.

In the present world, most of the media make use of popular people for marketing their goods and services. It is important to be knowledgeable enough to select the best thing without being a slave of them. Especially we must be alert about food, beverages, styles, technological devices, etc.

Facing different phenomena effectively

In our life, constantly we have to face different occasions and phenomena. Some of them are as follows:

• Facing examinations and failing them

• Death of our closest family members

• Financial hardships

• Disputes with friends

• Association of unsuitable friends

• Making decisions for occupations

• Selecting subjects

• Identifying talents and skills

• Being subject to social injustice

• Mental unrest

• Facing accidental disasters

How do you face any of these occasions? Do you have strength for that? If not, what should you do? Ask these questions yourself. Then your mind will give you suitable answers. Be always keen on that. Do not run away from challenges you get. Face them with courage.

Do not think that a problem has only one solution. There can be several options. For example, what should you do if you fail the examination? Here, most of the people become disappointed. However you have several options to face this challenge successfully.

Example -

• Getting ready for the examination again

• Following a professional course

• Developing other skills and potentials

• Being engaged in a self-employment

• Obtaining a training in a selected field

Therefore we should not build up negative attitudes to lose our lives, or to be fed up with. It is our duty to improve the psycho-social skills to face such situations successfully.

Working creatively in challenging situations in life

Creativity is the most unique strength of a person. Man has become a special being among all other animals, mainly due to this power. All the inventions in the world have been imaginations of the human mind. Therefore, it is important to work creatively in all challenging occasions. If you are a creative person, you should have

positive answers for the following questions.

 Am I so curious?

 Am I observational?

 Do I consider alternatives?

 Do I day dream on my future?

 Am I always keen?

 Can I identify bad habits?

 Do I think freely?

 Can I give new solutions for practical problems?

If you have positive answers for these questions, you are truly a creative person. Then you can face any challenge successfully.

Rights available in society

Rights are the privileges given to a person by the human society. They are important to make life satisfied. The rights provide man an opportunity to spend a good and dignified life.

Duties related to rights

You are entitled to several rights as a member of a society. All those are given to you for the benefit of the society. Therefore, it is important to fulfill your duties before enjoying rights. The bond of the citizens to fulfill duties entrusted for the existence of a society is known as a duty. Therefore, you are bound to fulfill the duties you are entrusted with.

Importance of enjoying rights within a legal framework

Any society should focus special attention on fulfilling duties while enjoying the rights. When everyone enjoys rights in an excellent manner a good society emerges. Ensuring personal rights and freedom of every person, fulfilling the needs of people and developing inter-personal relations, will possibly build up good life style and emergence of a civilized society will be the final outcome of it.

Qualities to be improved to live as a good citizen in society

Man is a great treasure. For a man to be a great treasure, there should be perfect human qualities in him. Man should love his fellow men in the society while extending the same affection to animals and environment. It will create a good human society. Some of the great human qualities man should develop are as follows:

Rights of professionals

Article 23 of universal charter on human rights has given every individual the right to work, right to choose one’s occupation freely, right to enjoy reasonable facilities while working and to ensure job security.

• Accordingly, several rules and regulations have been introduced to safeguard rights of servants in public as well as in private sectors. Safeguarding the rights of people through the constitution. 

• Several provisions such as labour laws, employee’s provident fund, widows and orphans pension, insurance schemes, human rights commission and establishment code, have been introduced to safeguard the rights of professionals.

• Accordingly, any person who faces an injustice in the place where he or she is employed, of these rules and regulations will safeguard them.

Disadvantages of not practising employee’s laws correctly

•  Exploitation of labour

•  Dissatisfaction of employees

•  Not getting a reasonable salary

•  Loss of job security

•  Being helpless after the retirement

•  Injustice caused to workers

•  Being subject to the influence of employers

•  Accidents and diseases caused by insecurity

Preventing exploitation of child labour

According to Shop and Office Employees Act, made against exploitation of child labour, children below the age of 14 cannot be employed. If such children are employed, it can be prevented by informing the Commissioner of Labour.

Since education is compulsory in Sri Lanka, every child under the age of 14 should attend school. Children are employed mainly due to economic problems in families, helplessness of children, ignorance of parents, influences of some people, and traditional occupations.

Impacts of employing children as labourers

•  Falling ill as physical and mental strength weaken

•  Exploitation of labour

•  Subject to abuse

•  Losing opportunities for learning

•  Losing the pleasant childhood

•  Engaging in anti-social activities

•  Addiction to intoxicated drugs

•  Subject to harassments

•  Getting mental / physical disorders

Social responsibility on child labour

•  Treating all children as our own children

•  Directing them to a school for compulsory education

•  Not employing children for narrow expectations

•  Making the relevant institution aware of child labour

•  Adults not depending on children

Retirement of servants

All the employees in both public and private sectors have a legal procedure for retirement. Government servants are to retire at the age of 57 but they have the option to work until the age of 60. Private sector servants can get their Employees Provident Fund at the age of 55. However the female employees can get it for their marriage.

Before retirement, the servants should make the Department of Pension, aware of their retirement through the heads of institutions they are employed in. Prior to retirement they should submit all the relevant documents and complete their files.

Spending the retirement fruitfully

Both public and private sector servants spend their time and labour on behalf of the needs of the people in the country. Once they lose the usual duty – bounded environment, in which they worked for a long period of time, they are liable to face physical and mental inconveniences.

Therefore it is important to work with a pre-plan to spend one’s retirement productively. They can engage in different types of activities such as engaging in hobbies, helping for family affairs, engaging in creative activities, and sharing their own experiences.

Financial rights for the duties performed

Every employee is legally entitled to get a salary and some of them are entitled to get over time allowances for extra work done in their extra time. Since you are given a salary for your service in an institution, it is the duty of every servant to do a service in par with the salary they obtain.

Steps taken by the society to safeguard children, youth and elderly people

Every country takes measures to enhance its qualitative development. The whole society consists of children, young people and elderly people. Several service centres and welfare activities are in operation to safeguard them.

In this way, several institutions and services have been established to safeguard these groups.

Different laws in our society and their influences to safe-guard children and elders

Every society in the world follows a system of rules and regulations to protect children and elders. As a whole the human rights are inter-related with laws. Different countries have enacted these laws following their hereditary ways. Accordingly, they have taken several steps:

• Establishing child care centers

• Providing education facilities

• Providing things totally free or at a concessionary price

• Giving scholarships

• Providing information related to employment opportunities

• Providing pensions and insurance schemes for elderly people

• Providing health insurance

• Establishing home for elders

In this way, most of the societies have accepted the value of safeguarding children and elderly people equally.

Challenges faced by the members of a society

When we live in a society we have to face different challenges. Challenges are obstructive situations and problems to which immediate solutions cannot be given. People encounter these challenges frequently. Following qualities and skills should be developed to face challenges successfully.

•  Tolerance  

• Creativity

• Endurance  

• Forwardness

• Firm determination  

• Sustainability

• Self confidence  

• Physical and mental strength

• Bravery  

• Being strategic

• Rationality  

• Being tactical

As students, facing an examination is a challenging situation. To face such a challenge successfully, we must work systematically by finishing our studies, answering model papers and by enhancing self-confidence. It is the most successful way to face challenges in examinations.

Most of the people in the modern society face challenging situations such as :

• Competitions

• Complexity of society

• Impact of media

• Modern fashions

• Cultural degeneration

• Deterioration of morals

• Increasing number of abuses

• Safeguarding children from harmful forces

• Unemployment

• Incompatibility between educational and professional world

• Drawbacks in using English language

• Using new technological devices

• Increasing cost of living

• Environmental problems

Through different types of social stratum various challenges have emerged in the society.

Overcoming the challenges

There should be a specific programme or a pre-plan to win a challenge. We must face challenges instead of fleeing away from them. By facing challenges, we can get strength, experience and maturity needed for that. If you want to face challenges successfully you must face them practically instead of rejecting, postponing, replacing them and wasting time by thinking about them.

Story of Wilma is a fine example for the possibility of winning any challenge by working with great self confidence and dedication.

Steps to win challenges

• Building up life objectives or targets

• Adapt to an affordable life style

• Taking correct decisions

• Creative thinking

• Organizing activities with a plan

• Selecting different options

• Taking advice and directions of elders

• Changing all defeats into experiences of life

• Being optimistic

• Self-confidence in one’s own work

To win any challenge successfully, it is important to develop your strengths by following the above steps.

Obligations and responsibilities to be fulfilled for the well being of society

Obligations

Obligations are those which people are bound to do as citizens for the existence of common society. These obligations can be divided into two as legal and moral.

We are legally bound to fulfill legal obligations. If we neglect them we are liable to be punished. Therefore for the well being of society the responsibility of all citizens should not ignore legal duties.

Moral obligations are not legally bound and they are related to the conscience of a person. Even though we do not fulfill these obligations we will not be subject to any punishment. But we will be blamed and rejected by the society. Society can either give punishments or not.

However, by failing fulfilling these moral obligations with the lapse of time one will be subject to mental conditions like sadness, being fed up, unrest and inconvenience, causing deterioration of personal life style. For example, parents look after their children by feeding, giving education, moulding their future and bestowing their own properties. If the children do not look after parents in return, it is a negligence of obligations. It will deteriorate the person.

Therefore, both legal and moral obligations are essential for the smooth existence of society.

Responsibilities

The liability to fulfill obligations is known as responsibility. As members of a society we have many responsibilities to fulfill.

Example -

• Sustainable use of public property in the society for the common benefit of people.

• Respecting rules and regulations of society

• Contributing for the good governance of society.

Thus obligations and responsibilities are mutually inter-woven. This is inseparable as the bark to the tree. Smooth existence of a society is ensured on the basis of these obligations and responsibilities.

The following diagram displays how the fulfillment of obligations and responsibilities contribute for the well being of the society:

How fullfilling duties and responsibilities results in social welfare

Emergence of a satisfied and dignified society

When one’s needs are fulfilled easily, it brings a sense of convenience. Since all respect each other, one feels of self-dignity.

Then the society functions smoothly.

• Possibility of developing a wholesome life style

When only the good things happen in a society, people build great confidence on the society. It provides all an opportunity to spend a good life.

• Possibility of maintaining wholesome inter personal relationships.

Since obligations and responsibilities are fulfilled well inter personal relationships increase. It makes room for maintaining wholesome (good) interpersonal relationships easily.