NCERT Solutions for Class-6 Civics Chapter-5 Panchayati Raj

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS

Question 1. What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem?
Answer: The main problem which the people of the Hardas village faced was a shortage of water. The water problem in Hardas had become very acute. The hand pump water was below the point to which the ground was drilled. There was no water in the taps. Women had to go to the Suru river to get water, which was about 3 km away.
       They discussed the problem of water shortage and people gave many suggestions. One of the members suggested piping water from the Suru and making an overhead tank. It was an expensive suggestion. The others felt it was better to deepen the handpumps and clean the wells. This suggestion was rejected, as it will work temporarily.
       The third suggestion was watershed development. The fourth suggestion was to plant trees, construct check dams, and tanks. The Panchayat was asked to find out about it in detail.

Question 2. What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?
Answer: Importance of Gram Sabha,
1. Gram Sabha is the elected body of people consisting of several Gram Panchayats.
2. It has more powers than Gram Panchayat.
3. It controls the money received by the Gram Panchayat.
4. It also suggests various tasks to be done by the Gram Panchayat.
5. All members should attend Gram Sabha meetings because they have to make decisions about the welfare of the village people.

Question 3. What is the link between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Answer: The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all people (adults) who live in the area covered by the Panchayat. Anyone who is 18 years old or more and has a right to vote is a member of the Gram Sabha.
       Every village is divided into wards, i.e., smaller areas. Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward member (Panch). All the members of the Gram Sabha also elect the Sarpanch. The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch from the Gram Panchayat. It is elected for 5 years.

Question 4. Take an example of any one task done by a Panchayat in your area/nearby rural area and find out the following:
1. Why it was taken up?
2. Where the money came from?
3. Whether or not the work has been completed?
Answer: The task was taken up: Repairs of drains.
1. It was taken up because the drains were in damaged condition. Dirty water was spreading in the streets and on the roads, making them unusable for traffic.
2. The money came from taxes, government grants, and donations.
3. The work has been completed.

Question 5. What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Answer: Difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat,

Gram Sabha	Gram Panchayat
Gram Sabha is the institution which consists of all the adults of the village men and women.	Gram Panchayat is the executive body of the village consisting of the Sarpanch and the Panch.
All the adults above the age of 18 years are members of the Gram Sabha.	Gram Panchayat is divided into wards. Its members are called ward members (Panch). Ward Panch and Panchayat President (Sarpanch) make the Gram Panchayat.
It approves and controls the money of the Gram Panchayats.	Gram Panchayats spend the money on several welfare schemes of the village.
It is a permanent body of the village.	It is elected for a term of 5 years.

Question 6. Read the following news item:
Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villagers depend on tankers for all their needs. Bhagavan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, iron rods, and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to the hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nimone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for the lower castes.
1. Why was Bhagavan beaten?
2. Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why?
Answer:
1. Bhagavan was beaten because he insisted that water from the tanker be emptied into the storage tanks. He belonged to a lower caste.
2. Yes, we think that the above is a case of discrimination because the upper caste people did not approve of the suggestion of lower caste Bhagavan, though his suggestion was very appropriate. It would help to solve the water shortage in the village.

Question 7. Find out more about watershed development and how it benefits an area?
Answer: A Watershed is the basin of a tributary. It may or may not have a small stream, but whenever it rains, the water flows through it finally to join Some stream. The watershed is thus a physiographic unit and can be conveniently used for small areas.
A watershed is a holistic approach. It includes programs for soil and moisture conservation, water harvesting, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, and up-gradation of land resources. These plans look at the local needs of the people. It seeks the participation of the people.