Grassroots Democracy Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas NCERT Class 6th SST Chapter 12 Question Answer
Grassroots Democracy Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas Class 6 Questions and Answers
The Big Questions (Page 173)
Question 1.
What are urban local bodies and what are their functions?
Answer:
As per Constitution we have local government structures in urban areas called Tirban local bodies’. According to the size and population of the cities we have:
- Municipal Corporation: Cities with a population above 10 lakhs have a Municipal Corporation. They are also known as ‘Mahanagar Nigam’.
- Municipal Council: Cities with population between 1 and 10 lakhs, the highest body is called as Municipal Council. They are also called ‘Nagar Palika’.
- Nagar Panchayat: Towns with smaller populations below 1 lakh have Nagar Panchayat.
The functions of the Urban bodies includes the construction and maintenance of infrastructure, burial ground, garbage collection and disposal, water supply, running of primary schools and healthcare system, collecting local taxes and fines and many other essential services.
Question 2.
Why are they important in governance and democracy?
Answer:
Urban local bodies are form of local government in urban areas that take care of daily needs like water supply, garbage disposable, maintenance of parks and burial grounds and others. These decisions are collectively taken with the participation of local people of the same areas. With the one-third reservation of women in urban bodies, it has widened the concept of participatory democracy. Their existence has made the burden of central and government lighter and more effective.
Let’s Explore
Question 1.
Why is a city like Kolkata, Chennai or Mumbai more complex and diverse than a village or a town? (Page 174)
Answer:
City like Kolkata, Chennai or Mumbai are more complex and diverse than a village or a town because it has
huge and diverse population coming from different states, different religion, caste, economic background. These are the’ place with huge job opportunities, better infrastructure such as local bus service, local trains and Metro. Diverse people stay together and share their respective culture, food habits, festivals clothing and traditional life styles. These features make cities like Kolkata and Mumbai more diverse and complex.
Question 2.
With your classmates, make a list of diverse communities residing in any city that you are familiar with. How many were you able to list? What else do you observe in the list? (Page 174)
Answer:
Hint Based…Response can vary according to cities, towns and villages.
Let us take an example of Delhi. Delhi is the capital city of India and people from almost all kind of diversity reside here: For example, we can see people from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Manipur, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Bihar, UP and others.
Even people from foreign countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, Britain, French stays in Delhi.
Observation: Delhi is a cosmopolitan cities with huge diversity, people from across caste, gender, religion, region and economic background stays peacefully here. It makes Delhi a culturally rich city.
Question 3.
In Fig. 12.2 (See NCERT textbook page 175), what similarities and differences do you notice between the Panchayati Raj system and the urban local government? (Page 175)
Answer:
Similarities:
- Governance: Both the pancha¬yati raj system and urban local governments are forms of decentralised for local areas like villages and cities respectively. They are responsible for taking care of people’s needs and ensuring basic services to the people in their areas.
- Members are chosen through elections held after five years.
- One-third seats are reserved for women in both the set ups.
Differences: Panchayati raj is a three- tier system looking at the need of people in rural areas, whereas urban local bodies are either single or two-tier structure looking at the administration of urban areas.
The panchayati bodies have less resources as compare to urban bodies.
Question 4.
Can you think of four or five more actions that responsible citizens might take to help their area of the city? (Page 177)
Answer:
Some actions that responsible citizens might take to help their area of the city are as follows:
- Planting and taking care of trees.
- Using public transport.
- Using of cotton and jute bags instead of plastic bags.
- Teaching and helping poor children.
- Complete switchover to LED lights and increasing the usage” of Solar Energies.
- Saving water wasted through RO’s and using it through recycling for purpose of parks, cleaning of cars etc.
Question 5.
Select a few cities, from your State and from a few neighbouring States. These may include the city you live in or the city nearest to your town or milage. How will you find out if they have a Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council or Municipal Corporation? Draw a table with the names of the cities and the type of urban local body each of them has. (Page 1 79)
Answer:
Hint based-Suggestive.
State-I: Sikkim
| City | Type of local Bodies |
| Gangtok | Municipal Corporation. |
| Namchi | Municipal Councils. |
| Mangan | Nagar Panchayat. |
State-II: Karnataka
| City | Type of local Bodies |
| Bangalore | Municipal Corporation. |
| Belgaum | Municipal Councils. |
| Shimoga | Nagar Panchayat. |
Question 6.
How do urban local bodies fund their actimties? (Hint: Look carefully at the pictures of the functions performed by Indore Municipal Corporation in Figure 12.4 on page 178.) Are some of them paid services? (Page 1 79)
Answer:
Property Taxes, Water Charges, Waste Management Fees, Trade Licence and they also receive grants from State government.
Some paid services are Water tanker, Rental for Auditorium, Septic tanker charges etc.
Think About It
Question 1.
Indore in Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the cleanest city in India under the Swachh Survekshan government scheme for seven years in a row. What could have been the role of Indore citizens in this achievement? (Page 1 79)
Answer:
All governments work for the welfare and happiness of the people. Indore’s local bodies have been delivering the best services and citizens have taken their role in positive and affirmative manners. The Indore people have been following all kind of rules regarding collection and disposable of garbage with utmost care. They have volunteered up themselves in solving many issues like not littering on road, avoiding the use of plastics, using more of public transports system. Through regular campaigns they encourage people, take care of their cities and to be part of solution.
Questions, Activities and Projects (Pages 181-182)
Question 1.
On your way to school, you and your friends notice that a water pipe is leaking. A lot of water is being wasted on account of the leak. What would you and your friends do in such a situation?
Answer:
Steps taken by the students after noticing a water pipe leakage are:
- Report immediately to local elders or teachers.
- Contact local authorities through helpline numbers.
- Encourage local people to store and use the flowing water.
- Take the help of nearby people to click the image and share with local leaders through WhatsApp etc.
Question 2.
Invite a member of an urban local body near you to your class. Discuss with them their role and responsibilities. Prepare a set of questions to ask them so that the meeting is fruitful.
Answer:
Local Councillor Ms. Rakhi has been invited to share her experience, role, duties and vision for her area:
Questionnaire
- Please tell us about yourself.
- What is your role in Urban Local Body?
- Please highlight your duties responsibilities.
- What do you like most in discharging your duties?
- What are the challenges you face in discharging your duties?
- What are your plans to make your ward the best area?
- How do you involve local citizens in participatory government?
- Kindly advice how to involve students in Municipals work.
- How to stop littering on roads?
- What are the future plans in politics?
- How to motivate children to join clean politics?
Question 3.
Discuss with adult members of your family and neighbourhood, and make a list of their expectations from the urban local bodies.
Answer:
Hint based-Suggestive.
Some expectations as shared by my uncle and neighbour are as follows:
- Regular supply of clean drinking water.
- Well maintained green parks and walking areas.
- Better and trained staff to clear up the hanging wires.
- Regular collection and disposable of garbage. Separation of dried and wet garbage.
- Some cultural activities on important event days.
- Various cultural and sports activities for children.
Question 4.
Make a list of characteristics of a good urban local body.
Answer:
A good urban local body is which listens to citizens adheres to its duties and does its task on time. Some important characteristics of a good urban local body are as follows:
- Citizen friendly.
- Responsive to the need of people.
- Should have citizen charters showing its duties and responsibilities.
- Should have mobile APP and be technology friendly.
- Should have strict, proper,, quick grievance redressal mechanism.
- It should create conditions for common people to be part of the local body.
Question 5.
What are the similarities and , differences between the Panchayati Raj system in rural areas and the urban local bodies?
Answer:
Similarities:
- Governance: Both the pancha¬yati raj system and urban local governments are forms of decentralised for local areas like villages and cities respectively. They are responsible for taking care of people’s needs and ensuring basic services to the people in their areas.
- Members are chosen through elections held after five years.
- One-third seats are reserved for women in both the set ups.
Differences: Panchayati raj is a three- tier system looking at the need of people in rural areas, whereas urban local bodies are either single or two-tier structure looking at the administration of urban areas.
The panchayati bodies have less resources as compare to urban bodies.
Class 6 Social Science Question Answer
- Chapter 1 Locating Places on the Earth
- Chapter 2 Oceans and Continents
- Chapter 3 Landforms and Life
- Chapter 4 Timeline and Sources of History
- Chapter 5 India, That is Bharat
- Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
- Chapter 7 India’s Cultural Roots
- Chapter 8 Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’
- Chapter 9 Family and Community
- Chapter 10 Grassroots Democracy Part 1 Governance
- Chapter 11 Grassroots Democracy Part 2 Local Government in Rural Areas
- Chapter 12 Grassroots Democracy Part 3 Local Government in Urban Areas
- Chapter 13 The Value of Work
- Chapter 14 Economic Activities Around Us