NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science - Local Governments

Q1: Constitution of India visualised village panchayats as units of self-government. Think over the situation described in the following statements and explain how do these situations strengthen or weaken the panchayats in becoming units of self-government.
(a) 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.
(b) The government has decided that 20 % of all its expenditure would be done through the panchayats.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 village ponds and wells.
Ans:
(a) It strengthens the village panchayat as the gram sabha can take decision independently for the welfare of the village people.
(b) It strengthens the village panchayat as it makes more resources available at their disposal. It allows them to spend according to their local needs.
(c) It weakens the village panchayat as it does not have enough funds to maintain and carry out welfare projects in the village. It has to depend on the government officials for funds.
(d) It strengthens the panchayat as it creates new unit of self government and allows more power in the hands of people.
(e) It strengthens the self governance of the village as it shows the ability of the village panchayat to mobilise the village to utilise their own resources without any help from the state government.

Q2: 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.
Ans:

• Development works at village level, i.e. irrigation facilities, drinking water, construction of roads, etc.
• Agricultural development to be supervised and implemented by the panchayats only related to agricultural practices in a modem method.
• Social welfare related activities to keep the records of birth and death in the village, family welfare and family planning.
•  The Gram Panchayat should be given the powers to open and maintain schools and Libraries in the village to maintain primary education.
• Gram Panchayats should enjoy the powers to ensure better health and life of citizens to provide basic civil amenities.

Q3: What are the provisions for the reservations for the socially disadvantaged groups as per the 73rd amendment? Explain how these provisions have changed the profile of the leadership at the village level.
Ans: The socially disadvantaged groups like women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have been given reservation for various posts in the local government of rural India according to the proportion of their population. One-third of all positions in panchayats are reserved for women while Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have seats reserved as per the proportion to their population. States can also provide reservation to Other Backward Classes if they think it is necessary.

This has changed the profile of the leadership at the village level by transferring the leadership from the earlier dominant social groups to groups that were previously unable to have a say in the decision-making process. There is now a greater representation of all social groups in the panchayat institutions. Thus, more women and people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes are now able to play important role in decisions that can bring benefits for their community.

Q4: What were the main differences between the local governments before 73rd amendment and after that amendment?
Ans: The main differences between the local governments before 73rdamendment and after the amendment can be listed as:

• After the implementation of 73rd amendment, the local government has been divided into a uniform three-tier Panchayati Raj structure.
• Earlier the state administration was responsible for conducting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions but now the state government has to appoint a state election commission for this purpose.
• After dissolution of the Panchayati Raj before its term of five years a fresh election has to be conducted within six months. This was not the case before the 73rd amendment was passed.
• Distribution of revenue between the state government and local government and between rural and urban government is done by the state election commission. This was not the case before the 73rd amendment was implemented.
• Reservation for women, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and to other backward classes (if the state government thinks it is necessary for OBCs) is implemented for various positions in the local government according to the proportion of their population.
• Twenty-nine subjects that were earlier in the State list of subjects in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution have been transferred to the Panchayati Raj institutions.

Q5: 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.
Ans:This conversation is based on the issue of empowerment of women on equal basis:

•  The constitution of India guarantees the equality of men and women.
•  Under Article 15, no citizen can be discriminated on the grounds of colour, race, language and religion, caste, sex, etc.
• Article 39(1) and (d) ensure an adequate livelihood and equal pay for equal work for both men and women respectively.
• Alok views that our constitution guarantees equality between men and women as well as reservations in local bodies also ensure the equal share of power.
• Neha views to have separate provisions of budget to women to improve women’s conditions.
• Jayesh views to provide provisions equally to all people living in village, hence women would automatically be benefited.
• But, if women will be provided to equal access along with men without any reservation, it will not get success at all.
• Without reservation, women will not succeed to the power and to make policies because of male dominant society in India.

Q6: Read the provisions of the 73rdAmendment. Which of the following concerns does this amendment address?
(a) Fear of replacement makes representatives accountable to the people.
(b) The dominant castes and feudal landlords dominate the local bodies.
(c) Rural illiteracy is very high. Illiterate people cannot take decisions about the development of the village.
(d)  To be effective the village panchayats need resources and powers to make plans for the village development.
Ans: (d)

Q7: The following are different justifications given in favour of local government. Give them ranking and explain why you attach greater significance to a particular rationale than the others. According to you, on which of these rationales the decision of the Gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based? How?
(a) Government can complete the projects with lesser cost with the involvement of the local community.
(b) The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers.
(c) People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their life.
(d) It is difficult for the common people to contact their representatives of the State or the national legislature.
Ans:
1st Rank: c. People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their lives. Local government by definition is meant for the local people of a particular area. It is based upon the assumption that the problems of an area are best understood and resolved by the local people. These decisions would be more rational and close to their problems. Thus, it is the most important aspect of local government.
2nd Rank: b. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers. This is because the decisions of local people are based upon an accurate knowledge of local requirements. This makes it the second most important aspect of local government.
3rd Rank: d. It is difficult for the common people to contact their representatives of the State or the national legislature. This is because common people may not have the time or resources to approach authorities at state or even district level about issues that have been pending for a long time. This makes it the third most important rationale behind local government.
4th Rank: a. Government can complete the projects with lesser cost with the involvement of the local community. Community involvement lessens the cost of projects. However, it is a less important aspect compared to the relevance of the development activities for local people. Thus, it is ranked fourth.
The decision of the gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based upon the knowledge of people about their local area, needs, problems and priorities. Collective participation enabled the people to discuss and take decisions about issues that affected their life. The decision of the government was taken without the consent of the Panchayat. Thus, it was violation of the right of the people to decide upon issues that affected them.

Q8: Which of the following according to you involves decentralisation?
Why are other options not sufficient for decentralisation?
(a) To hold election of the Gram Panchayat.
(b) Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village.
(c) Power to call meeting of Gram Sabha.
(d) A Gram Panchayat receiving the report from the Block Development Officer about the progress of a project started by the State government.
Ans: (b)
Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village. Rest of the three options do not involve decentralisation because elections can be held, meeting can be called and projects can be monitored even in a centralised form of government. These features are not related to the decision-making process, which is the most important aspect of decentralisation.

Q9: 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. These 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 the school.
(a) How would you decide the suitable day for the meeting? Think who 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 teacher 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.
Ans:
(a) The day of village haat would be the most appropriate due to availability of a number of peoples to sell and purchase the commodities.
(b) The most suitable venue for the meeting would be the village school where every person feel free to move and come to join the meeting because rest of the venues are community based and people will not be comfortable to join the meeting.
(c) It was held on Sunday, hence the women teachers did not attend it.
A Gram Sabha meeting should be held to discuss the problems of village in place of organising an education rally.
This meeting had to discuss the problems like education, condition of school, girls education as well as regularity of children in school.
(d) The agenda would be for meeting:

• Regularity of students in school, if not, how to make it regular.
• To focus on poverty alleviation Programmes.
• To focus on Landlessness of farmers.
• The construction work in village required.
• Socio-cultural programmes.
• To arrange the funds for the programmes decided.
• Vote of thanks by Gram-Pradhan.