Civics Class 10 NCERT Solution Ch 7
Exercises, Page no - 99
1. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government ?
Answer :
Democracy is government of people, for the people and by the people. By looking at all the democracies, we can say that it produces an accountable, responsive and legitimate government due to the following reasons :
- Democracy produces an accountable government because all the educated and enlightened citizens of the country are concerned that people should have the right to choose their representatives. If they do not work in a proper way than people have the right to overthrow them. That is why they are accountable to the people. People are also part and parcel of decision making process of the country. So democracy produces an accountable government.
- Democracy also produces a responsive government because in every type of country, people elect the government and that governement is responsible towards the people and parliament. Democratic government generally takes care of the needs and opinion of the people. That's why democracy produces a responsive government.
- Democracy not only produces an accountable and responsive but also produces a legitimate government. Democratic government is legitimate in the sense because it is elected by the people almost after every five years through the process of universal adult franchise. Any party which gets majority makes the government. If they lose the majority then they will have to resign from its office. In this way it is a legitimate government.
Answer :
- In most of the countries, social diversity generally exists. Every society is diverse in many senses like religion, race, caste, creed, culture, etc. Democracy gives equal rights to all its citizens and constitution says that there should be no discrimination with any one on the basis of gender, colour, religion, culture, age, etc. In this way when democracy gives equal rights to all its citizens, it accomodates social diversity in the country.
- In India, different caste groups, OBC's, weaker sections are given enough representation in every aspect of the society. They are given reservations in every sphere of the life. Democracy also ensures that the government should not be made by the majority but it should have the representation of minorities as well. In this way democracy accomodates social diversity as it not only takes care of the interests of majority but it also takes care of the interests of weaker sections as well.
- There is general tendency of gender discrimination in the world. Women are being discriminated in one way or the other. But in democracy women and weaker sections of the society, are given equal rights to vote so that they can elect their representatives. Even they are given reservation of seats in local bodies. Our country doesn't have its own religion and it never tries to give undue preference to any language. In this way it accomodates social diversity in the country.
- Industralised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich.
- Democracy can't reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens.
- Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and infrastructure.
- In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means that there is absence of any domination and conflict.
- Opposition of the statement. We are not agreed with this statement that industralised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich. Today's age is of democracy that every type of country, whether rich or poor, should have democracy and democratic government. Democracy is accountable and responsive but dictatorship is not accountable to any one. It is hardly responsive and not only takes care of one section of the society. Rest of sections are being suppressed by it. But for economic development, we need to take care of interests of all the sections of the society. Poor countries can use a number of measures to control poverty in democracy also.
- Favour of the Statement. We favour this statement. It is right that democracy gives equal opportunity to all the sections of the society. It gives enough share of natural resources to all the citizens. That is why it is necessary that there should be less inequality in democracy. But the actual condition is very much different from sense. In actual sense, inequality is increasing day by day between various sections of the society. Rich is becoming richer and poor is becoming poorer. It is so because in democracy, we cannot stop any one to earn more and more. Every one gets equal chance to earn. Difference is of their oppotunity that one is earning more and one is earning less. So democracy can't reduce inequality of income between different citizens.
- Opposition of the Statement. We oppose this statement on various grounds. It is right that industries and infrastructure are necessary elements of economic development but they are not the only elements. Human resources are also very much part and parcel of it. Human resources can help a lot in the development of the country. Literate and skilled population is an asset to any country which could be used at any time. But if the population would be illiterate and unskillful then it will be a burden on the country. So we cannot say that government in poor countries should spend less on poverty, food, clothing, health and education. Development of human is also necessary for industry and infrastructure. If industries are good but humans are illiterate then those industries would also be of no use. So a country should give its proper attention to all the aspects of society and social life.
- Opposition of the Statement. We don't agree with the statement that by providing right to vote to every citizen or with the idea of universal adult franchise all the dominations and conflicts will be removed from the society. Any type of democray is of no use if economic inequality, social inequality, social injustice, social disparity, economic injustice prevail in society. In democracy inequality between rich and poor, male or female prevails and if it prevails them domination of one class over the other will also prevail. Major group of the society will also try to dominate the minority of the society. In this type of condition conflicting situation will also prevail in society.
- Following a High Court directive a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non - dalits allowed entry for all from the same door.
- A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India.
- Following allegation of killing three civilians in Gandwara in fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir Police, an enquiry has been ordered.
- With this order of allowing entry by same gate of a temple in Orissa, to all (dalits and non - dalits), the honourable High Court has assured the life of dignity to dalits. It means they also have the right to worship the religion and court has given them it by securing their right of maintaining dignity. For this central government should assure that all the state governments should not allow any type of untouchablitiy or exploitation of Dalits in the country. If any one tries to do so then he should be given severe punishment under the law of Untouchability Offence Act 1955.
- A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India. It shows the poverty and economic inequality of the country. Even our democracy is working for the last 68 years but still we are unable to stop this type economic disparity or inequality. So for this any policy should be formed to look into the grievances of the people by giving insurance on produce, by providing loans at very less interest rates. So economic inequality should be removed from our country.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, an enquiry has been ordered in the fake encounter of three civilians in Gandwara. This incident shows us that police officers are taking law in their hands and are hardly taking care of human rights. Those organizations (means forces) should work according to law. So to stop this type of incident, a high level judicial enquiry should be ordered so that the guilty officials should be punished. Police officials should have soft attitude towards masses so that masses should give them the help in controlling militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
5. In the context of democracies, which of the following ideas is correct - democracies have successfully eliminated :
A. conflicts among people
B. economic inequalities among people
C. differences of opinion about how marginalised sections are to be treated.
D. the ideas of political inequality
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (D) that democracies have successfully eliminated the idea of political inequality.
6. In the context of assessing democracy which among the following is odd one out. Democracies need to ensure:
A. free and fair elections
B. dignity of the individual
C. majority rule
D. equal treatment before law
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (B) that democracies need to ensure dignity of the individual.
7. Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that
A. democracy and development go together.
B. inequalities exist in democracies .
C. inequalities do not exist under dictatorship.
D. dictatorship is better than democracy.
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (B) that studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that inequalities exist in democracies.
8. Read the passage below:
application under the Right to Information Act asking for the daily progress made on his application, names of the officials, who were supposed to act on his application and what action would be taken against these officials for their inaction. Within a week of filing application under the Right to Information Act, he was visited by an inspector from the Food Department, who informed him that the card had been
made and he could collect it from the office. When Nannu went to collect his card next day, he was given a very warm treatment by the Food & Supply Officer (FSO), who is the head of a Circle. The FSO offered him tea and requested him to withdraw his application under the Right to Information, since his work had already been done.
What does Nannu’s example show? What impact did Nannu’s action have on officials? Ask your parents their experiences when they approach government officials to attend to their problems.
Answer :
In this case of Nannu, a daily wage earner, government officials were pressurised to work with the help of law. Govt. of India has passed an Act of Right to Information and asked the related official about progress of his application regarding issuing of duplicate ration card. Even the names of related officials were also revealed in his application. His revealation of names of related officials has done his job and his ration card was made. Even he was given a warm welcome by the concerned officials and was requested by related official to withdraw his complaint.
This example of of Nannu has shown us that if any person from general public wants then he can exert a great impact on the working of government officials. Laws related to grievances of the laws exist in our country but the need is to use them . If they will not use them what is the need of them. So it is necessary for a person to know at least about his rights and to know about the calibre of the fact that what can he do ?