13 – The Value of Work

Key Idea

Work is an essential part of our lives. Every person contributes to society through various kinds of work — some for earning money and others out of care, love, and duty. Swami Vivekananda said, “When you are doing any work, do it as worship.” This means we should respect all kinds of work and do it with full dedication.

1. Types of Activities People Do

People engage in different activities every day — for example:

  • Working in offices, shops, or factories

  • Teaching or taking care of others

  • Doing household chores

  • Helping in the community

All these activities together make our lives better and society stronger.

2. Economic and Non-Economic Activities

A. Economic Activities

These are the activities that involve earning money or goods of value in return for work.
Examples include:

  • A farmer selling crops in the market

  • A lawyer earning fees for a case

  • A shopkeeper selling clothes

  • A driver transporting goods

  • A factory worker producing cars

Economic activities contribute to the economy because they create income and value.

Key Terms:

  • Market: A place where goods and services are exchanged, usually for money.

  • Fee/Wage/Salary: Payments made to people for their services or work.

  • Value Addition: The extra worth added to a product through effort, skill, or processing.

Example of Value Addition:
Rajesh, a carpenter, buys wood for ₹600 and sells the finished chair for ₹1,000.
The ₹400 difference represents his skill, time, and effort — the value he added.

B. Non-Economic Activities

These activities are not done for money but for love, care, or responsibility.
They are motivated by feelings, not profit.

Examples:

  • Parents cooking food for the family

  • Grandchildren helping grandparents

  • People teaching others for free

  • Families cleaning their homes

  • Volunteers serving food in a temple or gurudwara (Sevā)

Even though no money is earned, such activities have great social and emotional value.
They make our relationships stronger and our society happier.

3. Examples of Both Activities

From the stories:

  • Geeta Aunty (Air Force pilot): Economic activity – she earns a salary.

  • Rohan (software engineer): Economic when he works for a company; non-economic when he teaches computers for free.

  • Kabir’s grandfather: Non-economic – he teaches neighbourhood children voluntarily.

4. Payment Types in Economic Work

People can be paid in different ways:

  • Salary: Monthly payment (like for teachers, officers).

  • Wage: Daily or weekly payment (like for labourers).

  • Payment in Kind: Non-cash payment, e.g., fruits or goods given instead of money.

5. Importance of Non-Economic Activities

Non-economic work adds emotional and social value to our lives.
Examples:

  • Sevā (selfless service): Helping others without expecting money.

  • Community participation: Programmes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) or Van Mahotsav (Tree Plantation Festival) show teamwork and care for the environment.
    Such acts promote unity, cleanliness, gratitude, and respect for nature.

6. Why Work Has Value

All kinds of work — whether paid or unpaid — are valuable.
Economic work sustains us financially, while non-economic work keeps families and societies emotionally strong.

7. Summary Points

  • Work is worship and gives meaning to life.

  • Economic activities bring income; non-economic activities bring joy and social harmony.

  • Every activity contributes to personal and social well-being.

  • Respect all kinds of work — both paid and unpaid.



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Questions, Activities and Projects

1. How are economic activities different from non-economic activities?

BasisEconomic ActivitiesNon-Economic Activities
PurposeDone to earn money or livelihoodDone out of love, care, respect, or social duty
IncomeBrings income, salary, wage, or goods of valueNo income is earned
ExampleA farmer selling crops, a doctor treating patients for a fee, a shopkeeper selling clothesParents cooking for the family, children helping elders, people teaching for free
ResultHelps in economic growth and earningBrings emotional satisfaction and social harmony

✅ In short:
Economic activities are those where people work for money, while non-economic activities are done to help others or out of feelings of kindness and duty, not for profit.

2. What kind of economic activities do people engage in? Illustrate with examples.

People engage in different kinds of economic activities based on their skills and needs.
Some common examples include:

  • Business or trade:
    Selling goods in shops or markets (e.g., a shopkeeper selling clothes).

  • Agriculture:
    Growing and selling crops or vegetables (e.g., farmers selling produce).

  • Service sector:
    Working as doctors, engineers, teachers, or pilots who are paid salaries.

  • Manufacturing or industry:
    Making goods like furniture, machines, or vehicles (e.g., a carpenter making chairs).

  • Transport and communication:
    Drivers, post office workers, or delivery people who help move goods and messages.

✅ Example:
Rajesh, a carpenter, buys wood for ₹600 and sells a chair for ₹1,000. The ₹400 he earns is the value of his skill and effort — this is an economic activity.

3. There is great value attached to people who are engaged in community service activities. Comment on this statement.

People who work for the community help improve everyone’s quality of life, even if they don’t earn money.
Their efforts build unity, kindness, and cleanliness in society.

Examples:

  • Volunteers cleaning roads and parks during Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

  • People planting trees during Van Mahotsav

  • Helpers serving free food in temples, gurudwaras, or churches (Sevā)

✅ Comment:
Community service teaches us teamwork, selflessness, and gratitude.
Even though no money is earned, these activities make society stronger and more caring. They have great social and moral value.

4. What are the various ways in which people are compensated for various economic activities? Give some examples.

People are paid in different ways depending on their job or work type:

Type of CompensationMeaningExample
SalaryFixed monthly payment given to employeesA teacher or officer getting a salary every month
WagePayment given daily or weekly for labour or short-term workA construction worker getting daily wages
FeePayment made for professional servicesA doctor or lawyer charging a fee for advice
Payment in KindNon-cash payment made in goods or produceA farm labourer receiving part of the crop as payment

✅ In short:
Economic activities reward people through salary, wage, fee, or goods — depending on the type of work they do.

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