Class 6 Social Science - Social and Political Life - Chapter Panchayati Raj NCERT Solutions | What problem did the villagers in Hardas

What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?

What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?

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, 2004

a. Why was Bhagvan beaten?
b. Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why?

Find out more about watershed development and how it benefits an area?

What is the link between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat? 

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.

How would Maya's life be different in South Africa today?

Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?

What is the work of the police?

Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes.

Look at the statements in the column on the left. Can you identify which level they belong to? Place tick marks against the level you consider most appropriate.

• The decision of the Government of India to maintain peaceful relations with Russia.
• The decision of the Government of West Bengal on whether to have Board exam in Class 8 for all government schools.
• Introduction of two new trains between Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari.
• The decision to locate a common well in a particular area of the village.
• Decision to construct a big children's park in Patna.
• The decision of the Government of Haryana to provide free electricity for all farmers.
• Introduction of a new 1000 rupee note.

Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala's house?

You have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. List five of these.

Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk.

Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accommodation and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need.

                                                                                                                                                                 Source: Aman Sethi, Hindu On-line

What are the various ways in which people participate in the process of government?

What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?

What do you think the government can do to help farmers like Sekar when they get into debt? Discuss.

Who is a Municipal Councillor?

In what ways is a permanent and regular job different from a casual job? Discuss.

Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India's essential unity.

Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don't share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share these with the class.

Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk.

Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accommodation and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need.

                                                                                                                                                                 Source: Aman Sethi, Hindu On-line

Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table:

Discuss
In the two photographs you see different ways of collecting and disposing garbage.

i) Which way do you think provides safety to the person disposing garbage?
ii) What are the dangers of collecting garbage in the manner shown in the first photograph?
iii) Why do you think that proper ways of disposing garbage are not available to those who work in municipalities?

What issue is the poem trying to raise? Do you think this is an important issue? Why?

Several poor people in the city work as domestic servants as well as work for the Corporation, keeping the city clean. Yet the slums in which they live are quite filthy. This is because these slums seldom have any water and sanitation facilities. The reason often given by the Municipal Corporation is that the land in which the poor have set up their homes does not belong to them and that slum-dwellers do not pay taxes. However people living in middle class neighbourhoods pay very little in taxes compared to the amount of money the corporation spends on them in setting up parks, street lighting facilities, regular garbage collection etc. Also as you read in this chapter, the property taxes collected by the Municipality makes up only 25-30 per cent of its money. Why do you think it is important that the Corporation should spend more money on slum localities? Why is it important that the Municipal Corporation provide the poor in the city with the same facilities that the rich get?