Chapter 5 - Panchayati Raj
Question 1: What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem?Answer: The villagers in Hardas village faced the problem of drinking water shortage. They did the following tasks to solve this problem:
• They deepened the two hand pumps.
• They cleaned one well.
• They sought information about the scheme of watershed development from the Block Development Officer.
Question 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 is the most important body of the Panchayati Raj System. It is responsible for the planning out the strategies for the development of village, implementation of the ruling provisions. It also looks after the basic amenities of village people. It is also the custodian of the public property of the village. Education, law and order, primary health services are some of the other responsibilities of the Gram Sabha. It also checks the wrong decisions taken by the Gram Panchayat. It keeps an eye on the elected representative and in making them responsible to the persons who elected them. It is important for all members to attend Gram Sabha meetings because it is the only way to participate in the proceedings of various plans discussed in the meetings. The members of Gram Sabha represent different areas. So, it is important for them to put their local problems and development programmes in the meetings. If they remain absent from the meetings, their interests may be overlooked.
Question 3: What is the link between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Answer: A Gram Sabha consists of all adults living in an area covered by a Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat is a body elected by all the members of a Gram Sabha. The Gram Panchayat has a secretary who is also the secretary of Gram Sabha. The secretary is not an elected authority but is appointed by the government. The secretary is the link between the Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha. He is responsible for calling the meetings of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat. He is also the custodian of the records of the proceedings. Gram Sabha controls the functioning of the Gram Panchayat.
Question 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:
a. A connecting road from village to the main road. It was necessary so that the villagers could easily reach the city through the main road.
b. The money was collected as a contribution from the villagers and some part of it was also diverted from the Panchayat welfare fund.
c. Yes, the work has been completed within the projected time and it is now in use.
Question 5: What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Answer:
• Gram Sabha consists of all the adults of a village while Gram Panchayat is elected by the members of the Gram Sabha for a period of five years.
• The area of Gram Sabha is the entire village whereas Gram Panchayat is divided into wards represented by Ward Councillors.
• Gram Sabha puts control over Gram Panchayat.
Question 6: 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?
Answer:
a. There was acute water crisis in Nimone village and the villagers had to depend on tankers for their needs. So, when the tanker came in the village, Bhagvan 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. But the upper caste men were against this and therefore they beat Bhagvan to suppress his demand.
b. Yes, the above is a case of discrimination, because the upper caste men tries to suppress the genuine demand of the lower castes. They look them down upon and ignore their existence.
Question 7: Find out more about watershed development and how it benefits an area?
Answer: A geographical area that drains to a common point is called a watershed. A watershed is a perfect place for the conservation of soil and water. A watershed provides a huge supply of water which has accumulated at a point. Also, fertile soil is deposited around this point. Watershed development is important for the overall growth and development of a village. It benefits the area by making the land fertile. It makes the growth of trees possible. It also helps in checking soil erosion and waterlogging.
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