Textbook Solutions: Local Self-government: Rural and Urban Administration | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

I. Tick (✓) the correct option.

1.
Ans: (a)

2.
Ans: (c)

3.
Ans: (c)

4.
Ans: (a)

5.
Ans: (c)

II. State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the corrected statements in your notebook.

1.
Ans: False.
Corrected Statement: The local government in India functions at three levels.

2.
Ans: True.

3.
Ans: False.
Corrected Statement: The head of the Gram Panchayat is called the Pradhan or Sarpanch.

4.
Ans: False.
Corrected Statement: The land record keeper, or Patwari, is a government official, not an elected official.

5.
Ans: False.
Corrected Statement: The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, popularly known as the Mid-day-Meal (MDM) Scheme, was launched in 1995.

III. Answer the following questions in brief.

1.
Ans: The three levels of local self-governing bodies under the Panchayati Raj system are:

• Gram Panchayat (Village Level): It functions at the village level and is the basic unit of the Panchayati Raj system.
• Panchayat Samiti or Block Panchayat (Block Level): It functions at the block level, addressing issues that cannot be handled by individual Gram Panchayats.
• Zila Parishad (District Level): It functions at the district level and is the highest tier in the Panchayati Raj system, overseeing the entire district.

2.
Ans: The Gram Panchayat is headed by the Pradhan or Sarpanch. The Up-Pradhan (Vice-Pradhan) takes on the responsibilities of the village in the absence of the Sarpanch and assists in the overall functioning of the Gram Panchayat.

3.
Ans: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, also known as the Swachh Bharat Mission, is a nationwide campaign launched by the Government of India on 2 October 2014. The mission aims to promote cleanliness and hygiene, eliminate open defecation, and implement a community-managed waste management system in rural areas, while focusing on public toilets, waste collection, and waste-to-energy conversion in urban areas.

4.
Ans: The local self-governing bodies in a city are:

• Municipal Corporation (Nagar Nigam): Operates in large cities with a population of over 10 lakhs and is responsible for the overall development of the city.
• Municipal Council (Nagar Palika): Functions in smaller cities and towns, managing local amenities and services.
• City Council (Nagar Panchayat): Governs areas transitioning from rural to urban and addresses the specific needs of these areas.

5.
Ans: The functions of urban local bodies include:

• Providing water supply, and maintaining roads, streets, bridges, and public works.
• Street lighting, drainage, and garbage collection.
• Prevention and control of epidemics.
• Construction and maintenance of rescue homes, housing for low-income groups, and provision of treatment facilities.

IV. Answer the following questions in detail.

1.
Ans: Local self-government in India is significant because it empowers local people to identify and solve their own problems, promotes participation in governance, and generates a spirit of cooperation. It also provides training and experience in administration to elected representatives, lightens the burden of central and state governments, and acts as a link between the people and the central government.

2.
Ans: The main functions of the Gram Panchayat include:

• Preparing plans and schemes for economic development.
• Promoting social justice schemes.
• Recording statistics of births and deaths.
• Establishing child welfare and maternity centers.
• Constructing and repairing village roads, tanks, and wells.
• Providing clean drinking water, road lighting, and sanitation.
• Managing public health, hospitals, fairs, markets, and recreational programs.

3.
Ans:

• Composition: Municipal Corporations are composed of members elected by the adult citizens of a city for a term of five years. The city is divided into wards for election purposes. The Municipal Commissioner, appointed by the state government, acts as the Chief Executive Officer.
• Functions: Municipal Corporations are responsible for garbage collection and disposal, maintaining drainage systems, establishing hospitals and dispensaries, registering births and deaths, and building and maintaining schools.

4.
Ans: Citizens can express their grievances by holding dharnas (protests), filing cases in special courts like Lok Adalat, approaching consumer courts, using the Right to Information (RTI) Act to obtain information from public authorities, signing petitions, writing to Municipal Councillors, or addressing their concerns through newspapers.

5.
Ans: The Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005, empowers citizens by promoting transparency and accountability in government functioning. It provides citizens with the right to access information under the control of public authorities, helping to curb corruption and ensuring that democracy works effectively for the people.

V. Picture Study

1.
Ans: The picture shows a group of villagers, including both men and women, gathered around an elder seated on a traditional cot (charpai). They appear to be in discussion, possibly resolving an issue or making a decision. The setting suggests a village Panchayat meeting.

2.
Ans: Panchayats are important because they represent the local self-government at the village level. They help in resolving local disputes, managing village affairs, and ensuring the community's needs are met. Panchayats play a crucial role in grassroots democracy by involving local people in decision-making and governance.

3.
Ans:

• Lack of access to clean drinking water.
• Poor infrastructure such as roads and drainage.
• Limited healthcare facilities.
• Insufficient educational opportunities.
• Inadequate sanitation and waste management.

4.
Ans: "Grassroots Democracy in Action: Village Panchayat Resolves Community Issues."