Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 Question Answers - Social and Political Life - III

Q1: Discuss the role of the government in regard to public facilities.
Ans: Public facilities are associated with our basic needs. Our Constitution recognises many of the public facilities as being a part of the Right to Life. Therefore, the government must see that these rights are protected so that everyone can lead a decent life. But its efforts are not successful to some extent. There is a shortage in supply and there are inequalities in distribution. Metros and large cities are not in very bad condition but towns and villages are underprovided. In comparison to wealthy localities, the poorer localities are underserviced. The government is expected to take steps in order to make all the public facilities accessible to everyone. So far we are concerned, we must cooperate with the government.

Q2: Do you think water is available in Chennai and affordable by all? Discuss.
Ans:

• Water supply in Chennai is marked by shortages.
• Municipal supply meets only about half the needs of the people of the city, on an average.
• There are areas which get more water regularly than others. Those areas that are areas that are close to the storage points get more water whereas colonies further away receive less water. 
• Apart from the availability of water access to ‘safe’ drinking water is also available to some and this depends on what one can afford. 
• The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the poor. 
• The middle class, when faced with water shortages are able to cope through a variety of private means such as digging bore wells, burying water from tankers and using bottled water for drinking.

Q3: Why should the government bear the responsibility to provide public facilities to everyone?
Ans: If private companies are given the responsibility to provide public facilities such as water, they will charge more. In such a situation only some people can afford to buy water. Thus, even though private companies are providing the facility of water, but this facility is not available to all at an affordable rate. If we go by the rule that people will get as much as they can pay for them many people who cannot afford to pay for such facilities will be deprived of the opportunity to live a decent life. Obviously, this is not a desirable option. Public facilities relate to our basic needs. The Right to Life that the Constitution guarantees is for all person living in this country. Therefore, it should be the government’s responsibility to provide public facilities to all.