Chapter – 9 Public Facilities
Question. Why do you think there are so few cases of private water supply in the world?
Answer.
- There are few cases of private water supply in the world. Private companies do not take interest in undertaking any profit or low-profit work.
- Few private companies supply water through water tankers or in sealed bottles.
- They provide this facility at a price that only some people can afford.
- Water is an essential facility that needs to be provided for everyone.
- The government provides water facilities to all at an affordable rate so that anybody will not be deprived of the opportunity to live a good life.
Question. Do you think water in Chennai is available to and affordable for all? Discuss.
Answer.
- In Chennai, water is not available and affordable to all.
- Here water supply is not adequate and regular.
- They have to wait long for public water tankers.
- In Chennai government’s water supply is not adequate and regular.
- People who live in slums suffer a lot.
- They have only one common tap for 20-30 huts.
- They have to wait long for public water tankers.
Question. How is the sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai affecting the local people? Do you think local people can object to such exploitation of groundwater? Can the government do anything in this regard?
Answer.
The sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai affects the local people as follows:
- Due to heavy exploitation of water, the groundwater level dropped drastically in the agricultural areas.
- Their agriculture suffers because they fail to manage water for irrigation.
- Local people can object to such heavy groundwater exploitation since it’s a public facility or nature’s gift on which everyone has equal rights.
- The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has to permit groundwater withdrawal and should take the necessary steps to recharge groundwater.
Question. Why are most private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?
Answer.
- Insignificant cities, life is fast. People could not wait for hours together, standing in long queues.
- They can afford it as they have money to spend.
- City people are more ambitious.
- They expect better facilities in private hospitals and private schools.
- Private schools/ hospitals provide better infrastructural facilities.
Question. Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain.
Answer.
- Our country’s distribution of public facilities, such as the right to water, health, education, etc., is not adequate and fair.
- The major role of government is to ensure adequate public facilities for everyone, but the progress in this regard is far from satisfactory.
- There is inequality and irregularity in water supply distribution compared to metropolitan and big cities and towns.
- In comparison to wealthy localities, the poor localities are under-serviced.
- People who live in slums suffer a lot. They are provided with a very low water supply.
Ex: Take the example of electricity. It is not supplied to the insufficient public measure. In VIP areas, it is abundant, and people there avail facilities of ACs, heaters, etc. But in middle and lower class areas, people get electricity only for a few hours, and sometimes they don’t .
Question. Take some of the public facilities in your area, such as water, electricity, etc. Is there scope to improve these? What, in your opinion, should be done? Complete the table.
Answer.
It is available | How can it be improved? | |
Water | Yes | By extending the hour of supply. The quality of water should be checked regularly. |
Electricity | Yes | Strict action should be taken to prevent light wastage, such as street lights being on during the daytime. Public appeal to prevent wastage. By extending power supply hours. |
Roads | Yes | By making the roads with proper and good quality material. By regular repair and maintenance. By making footpath on both sides of the road to prevent breakage on the side. |
Public Transport | Yes | By running some more buses.By deputing trained drivers.By arranging the service at the proper intervals. |
Question. Are the above public facilities shared equally by all the people in your area? Elaborate.
Answer.
No, the above public facilities are not shared equally by all the people in our area.
- The municipal supply of public facilities meets only near about half the needs of the people of our area.
- For half of the needs, people take the help of private means.
- Public facilities like health care facilities are provided now. The poor fail to get these facilities.
- Due to the rush, most people do not avail governmental public facilities like health care, etc.
Question. Data on some public facilities are collected as part of the Census. Discuss with your teacher when and how the Census is conducted.
Answer.
- The census is conducted every 10 years. It counts the entire population of the country.
- It also collects detailed information about the people living in India, their age, schooling, work, etc.
- This information is used to measure several things, such as the number of literate people and the ratio of males and females.
- After the collection Census Dept publishes the data.
Question. Private educational institutions – schools, colleges, universities, technical and vocational training institutes are coming up in our country in a big way. On the other hand, educational institutes run by the government are becoming relatively less important. What do you think would be the impact of this? Discuss.
Answer.
- The government would withdraw from these activities.
- Private agencies will be given a boost.
- Money would play an important role.
- Children from the deprived sections of society would be at a loss.
- Less qualified teachers would work in private institutions.
- Children will get quantitative rather than qualitative education.
Chapter 9 – Public Facilities Summary
The government provides public facilities to the country’s citizens for them to have a comfortable life. The government’s primary responsibility is to ensure that everyone has access to adequate public facilities. It improves living standards and assists any country in gaining international recognition in terms of development. Public facilities are linked to basic requirements, and the Indian Constitution recognizes the right to water, health, education, and other such rights as part of the Right to Life.
You’ll learn about the following topics:
- The Persons of Chennai and Water: Water is a public service available in various quantities to different people. Individuals have a fundamental right to safe drinking water, and it is the government’s responsibility to provide it to its population.
- Water as a Part of the Basic Human Rights: Water is necessary for life and good health.
- India has one of the highest water-borne illnesses, such as diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution recognizes the right to water as part of the right to life. That is to say, “universal access” to water should be provided.
- Public facilities include electricity, public transportation, schools and universities, and other necessities for survival and daily living. A large number of people share the benefits of public facilities.
- The Government’s Role: One of the government’s most essential responsibilities is to ensure that these public amenities are accessible to everyone. Making provisions for education, establishing schools and colleges, ensuring equal distribution of food throughout the country, improving health and sanitation facilities, improving transportation, and maintaining public utility works such as post offices, railways, and roads are all responsibilities of the government.
‘Social and Political Life – III’ is a crucial text for Social Science students in Class 8. Apart from this chapter, the websites contain the complete set of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science. Students can get a free pdf containing solutions for NCERT Class 8 Civics by clicking on the above links, and they can keep it for future reference.