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Q1 What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem?
Ans: People in Hardas village faced the problem of shortage of drinking water. The problem of water became very acute. The water of hand-pump falls below the point up to which the ground was drilled. They did not get water on taps. The women have to go too far to get water from the river.
They did the following tasks to solve this problem:
1. They deepened two hand-pumps. 2. The cleaned one well.
3. They approached the BDO (Block Development Officer) and got more information about the water- shed program.Q2 What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?
Ans: Importance of Gram Sabha:
1. The Gram Sabha is the meeting of all adults who live in the area covered by the Panchayat.
2. It is the elected body of people consisting of several Gram Panchayat.
3. It has more power than Gram Panchayat.
4. Suggests various tasks to be done by the Gram Panchayat.
5. The finalization of the list of the people below the poverty line (BPL) is approved by the Gram Sabha.Yes, I think that all the members should attend Gram Sabha meetings because they have to take decisions about the welfare of the village people.
Q3 What is the link between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Ans: 1. The Gram Sabha consists of all adults living in an area covered by the Panchayat.
2. Sarpanch is the elected by all the members of Gram Sabha.
3. The Gram Panchayat has a secretary who is also the secretory of Gram Sabha. The secretory is the link between Gram Sabha & Gram Panchayat.
4. Gram Sabha controls the functioning of Gram Panchayat.
5. Gram Sabha is the key factor in making the Gram Panchayat that plays its role and be responsible.Q4 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.Ans: The task performed by the Gram Panchayat includes the construction and maintenance of water sources, roads, drainage, school building and other common property resources.
(a) It was taken up because the school buildings were not giving a good impact, it was being dirty, the roads were not in good condition and the water tanks were being very dirty.
(b) The governments gives a budget in which the roads, buildings, drains etc. are built.
(c) Yes, the work of roads have been completed, drains are also painted and the water tanks are also been cleaned.Q5 What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Ans: Gram Sabha Gram Panchayat 1. Gram Sabha consists of all adults who lives in villages. 1. Gram Panchayat is elected by the members of Gram Sabha consisting of the Sarpanch and the panchs. 2. The area of Gram Sabha is entire village. 2. The Gram Panchayat divided into wards. 3. It is permanent body of the village. 3. It is elected for the terms of five years. Q6 Read the following news item.
Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-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, 2004a. Why was Bhagvan beaten?
b. Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why?Ans: (a) Bhagvan was beaten because he asked for the equal share of water by emptying the water tanker into the storage tank. He alleged that upper castes man were against this and they said to Bhagvan that the tanker was not meant for lower caste men.
(b) Yes, there was a discrimination because Bhagvan was a lower caste men and he asked for his water rights, but the upper caste one’s did not want to share equal water with the lower caste people.
Q7 Find out more about watershed development and how it benefits an area?
Ans: 1. Watershed development helps in conserving water and recharging the ground water.
2. Underwater shed development see that the following tasks are performed:- Trees are planted.
- Check damns and tanks are constructed to harvest road water.
- The government pays money for his work.