Grassroots Democracy Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas
NCERT Class 6th SST Chapter 11: Questions and Answers
The Big Questions (Page 163)
1. What are Panchayati Raj institutions?
Answer:
Panchayati Raj Institutions are local self-governing bodies in villages. They help solve problems at the village level and ensure people’s participation in democracy. These institutions work at three levels:
- Gram Panchayat: Village level
- Block Panchayat (Panchayat Samiti): Block level
- Zila Parishad: District level
2. What are their functions?
Answer:
Panchayats work to solve local problems and involve the community in decision-making. They manage many services like:
- Agriculture
- Housing
- Roads
- Water supply
- Education
- Healthcare
- Social welfare
- Cultural activities
3. Why are Panchayats important for governance and democracy?
Answer:
Panchayats are important because they bring democracy to the local level, allowing people to take part in decision-making. They help in tackling local issues, promoting development, and ensuring government schemes reach the right people. Panchayats also allow more women to be involved in politics and governance.
Think About It
1. How can old maps help us? What do they tell us about the past and present?
Answer:
Old maps are useful to understand how places have changed over time. They show things like land ownership, rivers, soil types, and population. They can also help solve disputes about land ownership in villages.
2. Why should the government focus on the needs of disadvantaged people?
Answer:
The government should focus on helping the disadvantaged because these people have fewer resources and opportunities. They often lack access to education, healthcare, and basic needs, which keeps them in poverty. The government’s role is to uplift them and help them improve their living conditions.
Let’s Explore
1. If your class forms a Bal Panchayat, what issues will the Gram Sabha discuss? What challenges will it face? What solutions can it propose?
Answer:
- Issues to discuss:
- Girls dropping out of school.
- Evening classes for senior citizens.
- Cleanliness and garbage disposal.
- Lack of pastureland for animals.
- Problems like drought or floods.
- Challenges:
- Villagers may not support girls’ education.
- Senior citizens may not show interest in evening classes.
- Limited resources and manpower.
- Lack of awareness and local support.
- Solutions:
- Raise awareness among villagers.
- Involve elders and local authorities.
- Organize regular meetings.
- Form small groups to address specific issues.
2. What are the similarities and differences between the governance system at the Central level and the Panchayat level?
Answer:
- Similarities:
- Both are elected every five years.
- Both work for the welfare of people, providing services like education, healthcare, and water.
- Both create policies to help disadvantaged people.
- Differences:
- The Central government makes policies for the whole country, while Panchayats focus on one village or area.
- The Central government has more resources and handles issues like national security, while Panchayats deal with local issues.
3. If you meet Panchayat members, what questions would you ask them?
Answer:
Here are some questions you could ask:
- Who are the members of the Gram Panchayat?
- What are their roles and responsibilities?
- How do they collect resources for development?
- What recent projects have been completed by the Panchayat?
- What challenges did they face while completing these projects?
- What role do women play in the Panchayat?
- What future plans do they have for the village?
- How do they involve local people in Panchayat activities?
- How do they coordinate with government officials?
Questions, Activities, and Projects (Page 171)
1. Can you name the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system? What are the key functions of each?
Answer:
The three tiers of Panchayati Raj are:
- Gram Panchayat (Village level):
- Manages primary schools and healthcare.
- Provides clean water and handles garbage disposal.
- Block Panchayat (Panchayat Samiti) (Block level):
- Prepares development plans for several villages.
- Collects information from villages and forwards it to the District level.
- Zila Parishad (District level):
- Makes overall development plans for the entire district.
- Ensures funds are received from the state or central government for projects.
2. Write a letter to the Sarpanch about the issue of plastic bags on the roadside.
Answer:
To,
The Sarpanch,
Sapta Village, Madhya Pradesh
Subject: Request to address the plastic bags issue on the roadside.
Dear Sarpanch Ji,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to bring your attention to the increasing number of plastic bags lying on the roadside in our village. This has become a serious environmental problem, affecting both health and sanitation. These bags can also block the drainage system.
I request that the Gram Panchayat take immediate action to address this issue, perhaps by organizing clean-up drives or promoting the use of eco-friendly bags. I trust you and the Panchayat members will take the necessary steps to make our village cleaner and healthier.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Prayan
3. What type of person should be a Gram Panchayat member?
Answer:
A Gram Panchayat member should be honest, hardworking, a good leader, a problem-solver, visionary, and empathetic towards the needs of the community.
4. Imagine you study in a village school near a highway. Students find it difficult to cross the road. What can be done? Which Panchayat institutions can help?
Answer:
Options to solve the issue:
- Build speed breakers or zebra crossings.
- Appoint a guard to help students cross the road.
- Temporarily stop traffic when children need to cross.
Panchayat institutions that can help:
- The Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat can approach the Block Development Officer (BDO) at the block level.
- The BDO can forward the issue to the District Magistrate (DM), who can contact the state government to solve the problem.
What students can do:
- Students can raise awareness by creating posters, writing letters, and discussing the issue with school authorities.
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