NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 - Local Governments

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From the chapter “Local Governments” of Political Science Class 11, students will learn about the implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments, Panchayati raj institutions, the need for local government, the role played by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the advantage of local governments, and much more.

Question 1:

Constitution of India visualised village panchayats as units of self-government. Think over the situation described in the following statements and explain how these situations strengthen or weaken the panchayats in becoming units of self-government.

  1. Government of a State has allowed a big company to establish a huge steel plant. Many villages would be adversely affected by the steel plant. Gram Sabha of one of the affected villages passed a resolution that before establishing any big industries in the region, village people must be consulted and their grievances should be redressed.
  2. The Government has decided that 20% of all its expenditure would be done through the panchayats.
  3. A village panchayat kept on demanding funds for a building for village school, the government officials turned down their proposal saying that funds are allocated for certain other schemes and cannot be spent otherwise.
  4. The Government divided a village Dungarpur into two and made a part of village Jamuna and Sohana. Now, village Dungarpur has ceased to exist in government’s books.
  5. A village panchayat observed that water sources of their region are depleting fast. They decided to mobilise village youth to do some voluntary work and revive the old ponds and wells.
Answer:
  1. Establishment of steel plant without the consent of Gram Sabha would weaken the Panchayats.
  2. It would strengthen the position of Panchayats.
  3. By rejecting the proposal of Village Panchayat, it has weakened the Panchayats.
  4. It would weaken the Panchayats.
  5. It would strengthen the Panchayats.
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Question 2:

Suppose you are entrusted to evolve a local government plan of a State, what powers would you endow to the village panchayats to function as units of self-government? Mention any five powers and the justification in two lines for each of them for giving those powers.

Answer:

The village panchayat is the main institution for running the administration of local affairs of the village. For effective functioning, the village panchayat should have following powers :

  1. Power to Impose Taxes. The Gram Panchayat should have the power to impose taxes, i.e., house tax, professional tax, entertainment tax, tax on agricultural land, pilgrim tax, tax on fairs and festivals, drainage tax, etc. This power is needed so that Panchayats have sufficient funds for the development of villages.
  2. Right to Plan. Village Panchayat should be given the power to make plan for the development of village. Village Panchayats know better about the village and types of development needs for the village.
  3. Agriculture. Village Panchayat should have all powers regarding the promotion of agriculture because more than 80% population of the village depends upon agriculture.
  4. Welfare Programmes. Village Panchayat should have the power to choose welfare programmes for the village.
  5. Allocation of Resources. Panchayat should have the power to allocate funds for the development works.

The above mentioned powers are needed to make the Village Panchayat independent and autonomous unit of Self-Government.

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Question 3:

What are the provisions for the reservations for the socially disadvantaged groups as per 73rd Amendment ? Explain how these provisions have changed the profile of the leadership at the village level.

Answer:
  1. According to 73rd Amendment Act, seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad. Not less than 1/3rd of the total number of the elected seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes.
  2. One seat is reserved for Backward classes in a Gram Panchayat where population of backward classes in the Gram Sabha area is more than twenty per cent of the total population of the Gram Sabha area.
  3. Office of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat in the district are reserved for Scheduled Castes in proportion to the population of Scheduled Castes to the total population of the district.

Reservation for the socially backward classes has significantly changed the social profile of local bodies. Local bodies have become more representative of the social reality they operate within.

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Question 4:

What were the main differences between the local governments before 73rd Amendment and after that Amendment ?

Answer:

Following are the main differences between the local government before 73rd Amendment and after that.

  1. Before 73rd Amendment there was no uniformity in three-tier Panchayati Raj structure. It differed from state to state. But now all the states have a uniform three-tier Panchayati Raj system.
  2. Before 73rd Amendment, Gram Sabha was not mandatory in all the villages. But now the amendment has made it mandatory to create the Gram Sabha.
  3. Before 73rd Amendment there was no uniformity in the tenure of the Panchayati Raj institution in all the states. But now the term of each Panchayati Raj institution is 5 years.
  4. Before 73rd Amendment in many states, there used to be indirect elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions. But under 73rd Amendment, direct elections are held to the local bodies.
  5. Before 73rd Amendment there was no reservation of seats in the local bodies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. But under 73rd Amendment, seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.
  6. Before 73rd Amendment there was no reservation of seats for women. But now 1/3rd of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every local body are reserved for women.
  7. By 73rd Amendment provision have been made for the establishment of State Finance Commission.
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Question 5:

Read the following conversation. Write in two hundred words your opinion about the issues raised in this conversation.
Alok : Our Constitution guarantees equality between men and women. Reservations in local bodies for women ensure their equal share in power.
Neha : But it is not enough that women should be in positions of power. It is necessary that the budget of local bodies should have separate provision for women.
Jayesh : I don’t like this reservations business. A local body must take care of all people in the village and that would automatically take care of women and their interests.

Answer:

The Constitution declares all the citizens of India to be equal in the eyes of law. Our Constitution guarantees equality between men and women. Article 15 provides that the state shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, sex, race, etc. Before 73rd and 74th Amendments, seats were not reserved for women in the local bodies. Under the 73rd and 74th Amendments, 1/3rd seats are reserved for women in the local bodies. These reservations apply not merely to ordinary members in Panchayats but also to the position of Chairpersons at all the three levels. No doubt reservation for women in the local bodies is against the Right to Equality. In fact, reservation for women was needed for the emancipation of women and development of the nation. Before reservation, women’s participation in local bodies was very nominal. At present, there are more than 32 lakh members elected to the local bodies (Rural and Urban). Of these, at least 10 lakhs are women and it is all due to reservation. But due to lack of reservation in the State Assemblies and Parliament, number of women is less than 5000. Women’s participation in the local bodies has changed the working of local bodies. At present, there are more than 80,000 women Sarpanches in Village Panchayats, more than 2000 women presidents of Panchayat Samities and about 200 women presidents of Zila Parishad. Due to reservation, women have gained confidence and they are understanding the working of local bodies in a better way. In this way, women are getting training in politics and art of administration. Behaviour of men in the local bodies has also changed due to the presence of large number of women. That is why there is a demand for 1/3rd reservation of seats for women in the state Assemblies and Parliament.

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Question 6:

Read the provisions of the 73rd Amendment. Which of the given concerns does the amendment address ?

  1. Fear of replacement makes representatives accountable to the people.
  2. The dominant castes and feudal landlords dominate the local bodies.
  3. Rural illiteracy is very high. Illiterate people cannot take decisions about the development of the village.
  4. To be effective, the village panchayats need resources and powers to make plans for the village development.
Answer:

(d) To be effective, the Village Panchayats need resources and powers to plan village development. 73rd Amendment assigned as many as 29 subjects to the local government.

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Question 7:

The following are different justifications given in favour of local government. Rank them and explain why you attach greater significance to a particular rationale than others. According to you, on which of these rationales the decision of the Gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based? How?

  1. Government can complete the projects with lesser cost with the involvement of the local community.
  2. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers.
  3. People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their life.
  4. It is difficult for common people to contact their representatives of the State or the national legislature.
Answer:
  1. People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their life.
  2. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers.
  3. Government can complete the projects with lesser costs with the involvement of the local community.
  4. It is difficult for common people to contact their representatives of the state or the national legislature.
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Question 8:

Which of the following according to you involve decentralisation ? Why are other options not sufficient for decentralisation ?

  1. To hold election of the Gram Panchayat.
  2. Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village.
  3. Power to call meeting of Gram Sabha.
  4. A Gram Panchayat receiving the report from the Block Development Officer about the progress of a project started by the State government.
Answer:

(b) Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village involve decentralisation. Other options are not the main points of decentralisation.

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Question 9:

A student of Delhi University, Raghavendra Parpanna, wanted to study the role of decentralisation in decision making about primary education. He asked some questions to the villagers. Those questions are given below. If you were among those villagers, what answer would you give to each of these questions? A meeting of the Gram Sabha is to be called to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure that every child of the village goes to school.
(a) How would you decide the suitable day for the meeting? Who do you think would be able to attend/not attend the meeting because of your choice.
(i) A day specified by the BDO or the collector
(ii) Day of the village haat
(iii) Sunday
(iv) Naag Panchami/Sankranti
(b) What is a suitable venue for the meeting ?
Why ?
(i) Venue suggested by the circular of the district collector.
(ii) Religious place in the village.
(iii) Dalit Mohalla.
(iv) Upper Caste Tola
(v) Village school
(c) In the Gram Sabha meeting firstly a circular sent by the district collector was read. It suggested what steps should be taken to organise an education rally and what should be its route. The meeting did not discuss about the children who never come to school or about girls’ education, or the condition of the school building and the timing of the school. No women teachers attended the meeting as it was held on Sunday.
What do you think about these proceedings as an instance of people’s participation ?
(d) Imagine your class as the Gram Sabha.
Discuss the agenda of the meeting and suggest some steps to realise the goal.

Answer:

a) (iii) Sunday is the best day for the meeting. Maximum villagers can attend the meeting on Sunday.
(b) (v) Village school is a suitable venue for the meeting.
(c) In the Gram Sabha meeting, maximum villagers
both men and women should attend the meeting. There should be active participation. Attendance for school teachers should be compulsory. There should be open discussion about the rally. Suggestions from the villagers should be invited. The meeting should discuss about those children who are not attending school. Conditions of the school building should be discussed
and decision should be taken to improve the building.
(d) To ensure that every child of the village goes to school, following steps should be taken:
(i) Parents should be convinced to send their children to school.
(ii) Awareness should be created among the villagers.
(iii) Some incentives should be given to the children. For example, books, notebooks,
uniform should be given free to all children. Some cash money should be given to poor children. Mid-day meals should also be given to every child.

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