NCERT Solution : Panchayti Raj, Chapter 5 Civics Class 6
Page no - 44
1. What is a Gram Sabha ?
Answer:
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all adults, above 18 years of age, who live in a area covered by the Panchayat. This could be a village or a few villages. Anyone who is 18 years old or more and has the right to vote can be the member of the Gram Sabha.
2. In the meeting of the Gram Sabha so far what are the problems that are being discussed ? What sort of solutions are being suggested ?
Answer:
The problems discussed in the meeting of the gram Sabha are :
- Plan to repair the road that connects the village to the main highway.
- Water and water shortages.
Various solutions were offered in the meeting of the Gram Sabha. They were :
- Piping water from Suru and meeting an overhead tank in the villages to increase the water supply.
- To deepen the handpumps and clean the wells for a season.
- Watershed development, which is a technique of recharging and refilling water.
- Construction of check dams and tanks.
Page no - 45
1. Was there a problem with the BPL list that the Gram Sabha was finalising ? What was this problem ?
Answer:
Yes, there was a problem with the BPL list that the Gram Sabha was finalising. The problem was that :
- Natwar who had just bought a colour T.V. and his son had sent him a new motorcycle, had been included in the BPL list.
- Birju's name was also included in the BPL list although he had so much land.
On the other hand Om Prakash, who was a landless labourer and who could barely make both ends meet was not included in the BPL list. The other villagers wanted his name to be included in the list.
2. Why do you think Soorajmal kept quiet even though Saroj asked him to speak ?
Answer:
Soorajmal kept quiet even though Saroj asked him to speak because they were afraid of Amirchand. he was a big landowner and still had control over a lot of land.
3. Have you seen any similar incidents when people are unable to speak for themselves ? Why do you think that happened and what prevented the person from speaking ?
Answer:
In the earlier incident given in the book, Bhagwan Mahadev land wanted that the water from the water tanker should be emptied into storage tank, so that everyone could use it. But the people said that water was meant for upper castes only. When he protested, he was severely beaten and had to be hospitalised. This was the main reason why people kept quiet. This type of things happen because some people are in a better position. They have money powers as well as muscle power and people do not want to enter into conflict with such kind of people.
4. How can the Gram Sabha prevent the Panchayat from doing what it likes ?
Answer:
The Gram Sabha is the main factor in making the Gram Panchayat play its role and be responsible. It is the place where all plans for the Gram Panchayat are placed before the people. The Gram Sabha prevents the Panchayat from doing wrong things like misusing money or favour certain people. It plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected representatives and making them responsible to persons who elected them.
Page no - 47
1. What decisions were taken by the Gram Panchayat ?
Answer:
It was decided by the Hardas Gram Panchayat to deepen two hand pumps and clean one well, so that the village would not go without water. The members then discussed the long term options. The members wanted to know if watershed programme would make substantial difference to the water level. It was finally decided that the Gram Panchayat would approach the Block Development Officer and get more information on the scheme.
2. Do you think it was necessary for them to take these decisions ? Why ?
Answer:
The Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat work for the welfare of the people of the village. They have to look after the needs of the villagers and hear their problems. They also have to offer solutions to their problems.
The hardas Gram Sabha offered both short term and long term decisions regarding water shortage in the village. They had discussed the problem and offered how to solve the problem, to the villagers. Otherwise the members of the Gram Sabha would have questioned the Gram Panchayat.
3. From the above description, write down one question that people could ask of the Panchayat in the next Gram Sabha meeting.
Answer:
In the next Gram Sabha meeting, the members would certainly question and asked explanations about the watershed programme and to know the views of the Block Development Officer.
Page no - 48
Q. Ask your teacher to invite any of the elected persons such as the Panch, Sarpanch (Panchayat President) or member of the Janpad or Zila Panchayat and interview them on their work and the projects undertaken by them.
Answer:
The Sarpanch (Panchayat President) was invited by the school. We were eager to find out more about the villages and the functions of various organisations.
Ist Person : Sir, you are the Panchayat President. Can you tell us about the work of the Gram Sabha and what projects have been undertaken by your Gram Panchayat ?
Sarpanch : We call regular meetings of the Gram Sabha and discuss the problems faced by the villagers, then we implement the programmes.
IInd Person : Can you enlist the programme undertaken by the Gram Panchayat ?
Sarpanch : Gram Panchayat provides for the
- Construction of roads, footpaths.
- Water supply and electricity.
- Takes steps for the distribution of seeds, which the government provides for the farmers.
- Promotes cottage industries.
- Keeps a register of births and deaths.
- It looks after maintenance and cleanliness of ponds and streets.
IIIrd Person : Can you tell us about some special projects undertaken by the Gram Panchayat ?
Sarpanch : The main problem faced by the people of the village was water shortage during the summer months.
This year with the help of the State Government, we have completed the rain water harvesting programme.
IV Person : What is this project ?
Sarpanch : In this project, the rain water is collected in such structures like dugwells, percolation pits and check dams. The trenches are dug around the field. The roofs water passes through the pipes and stored in tanks.
Vth Person : How is this water used ?
Sarpanch : It can be used for :
- Domestic work
- Provides water for agriculture
- Reduces groundwater pollution
VIth Person : It is very costly ? How did the people get money ?
Sarpanch : Yes, the project was costly. Some people took loans on easy rate of interest.
VIIth Person : How did the people use underground water ?
Sarpanch : They got water though handpumps and water was dawn from the wells.
All the Persons : Thank you sir, for your information.
Questions, Page no - 48
1. What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face ? What did they do to solve this problem ?
Answer:
The main problem which the people of the Hardas village faced was shortage of water. The water problem in Hardas had become very acute. The handpump water was below the point to which the ground was drilled. There was no water in the taps. Women had to go to the Suru river to get water, which was about 3 km away. They discussed the problem of water shortage and people gave many suggestions. Ine of the members suggested piping water from the Suru and making an overhead tank. It was an expensive suggestion. The others felt it was better to deepen the handpumps and clean the wells. This suggestion was rejected, as it will work temporarily. The third suggestion was the watershed development. The fourth suggestion was to plant trees, construct check dams and tanks. The Panchayat was asked to find out about it in detail.
2. What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha ? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings ? Why ?
Answer:
The Gram Sabha discusses the problems which is faced by the villagers. The villagers know their problems and know how to solve them. The members should attend the meetings of the Gram Sabha, because it is their problems which are being discussed and villagers can give their suggestions.
3. What is the link between Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat ?
Answer:
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all people (adults) who live in the area covered by the Panchayat. Anyone who is 18 years old or more and has a right to vote is a member of the Gram Sabha.
Every village is divided into wards, i.e., smaller area. Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward member (Panch). All the members of the Gram Sabha also elect the Sarpanch. The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat. It is elected for 5 years.
4. Take an example of any one task done by a Panchayat in your area/nearby rural area and find out the following :
a. Why it was taken up.
b. Where the money came from.
c. Whether or not the work has been completed.
Answer:
Panchayat took up the task of planting new trees in the village. The project was taken up, because people in the past indulged in indiscriminate cutting of trees, as a result the green cover in the village was considerably reduced. The money was provided by the :
- State government, collection of taxes on houses, market place etc.
- Government scheme funds received through various departments of the government like Janpad or Zila Panchayats.
- Donations for community works.
The work was completed. The planting of new trees is a continuous process and the people promised to plant new trees on all national holidays.
5. What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat ?
Answer:
Gram Sabha in a village is like a tiny legislature. All adult inhabitants, above the age of 18 years are its members. It elects the Gram Panchayat, the executive, which actually looks after the administration of the village.
6. Read the following news item.
Nimone is a village on the Chauphua-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villagers depend on tankers for all their needs. Bhagvan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, iron rods and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nimone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for the lower castes.
Adapted from Indian Express, May 1, 2004
a. Why was Bhagvan beaten ?
Answer:
Bhagvan was beaten because he wanted that the water brought by the tankers should be available to all the villagers. But the upper castes men wanted the water for their use only. Bhagvan had insisted that water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks, constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nimone Gram Panchayat.
b. Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination ? Why ?
Answer:
Yes, the above case was the case of discrimination because upper caste people wanted the tanker water for themselves only and said the water was not meant for the lower castes. It violates the right to equality given by the Constitution.
7. Find out more about watershed development and how its benefits an area ?
Answer:
Watershed is the basin of a tributary. It may or may not have a small stream, but whenever it rains, the water flows through it finally to join some stream. The watershed is thus a physiographic unit and can be conveniently used for small areas. The watershed is a holistic approach. It includes programmes for soil and moisture conservation, water harvesting, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development and upgradation of land resources. These plans look at the local needs of the people. It seeks participation of the people.