NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (Civics – Social and Political Life – III)
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 8 Social Science (Civics – Social and Political Life – III) Chapter – 9 (Public Facilities) has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
Civics (Social and Political Life – III)
- Chapter – 1 — The Indian Constitution
- Chapter – 2 — Understanding Secularism
- Chapter – 3 — Why Do We Need A Parliament?
- Chapter – 4 — Understanding Laws
- Chapter – 5 — Judiciary
- Chapter – 6 — Understanding Our Criminal Justice System
- Chapter – 7 — Understanding Marginalisation
- Chapter – 8 — Confronting Marginalisation
- Chapter – 10 — Law and Social Justice
Chapter – 9 (Public Facilities)
1. Why do you think there are so few cases of private water supply in the world?
Answer – There are very few cases of private water supply in the world because water is an essential amenity; water supply is a public facility that every government must provide to all citizens of a State. In cases where water supply was placed in the hands of private companies, the prices of water rose, making it unaffordable to the masses. This resulted in riots, protests and violent demonstrations in countries like Bolivia. Hence, it has been deemed best that the government must handle water supply services.
2. Do you think water in Chennai is available to and affordable by all? Discuss.
Answer – Water in Chennai is not available and affordable by all.
- Water supply is marked by shortages especially. The municipality is able to meet only about half of the total need.
- Some areas have a regular supply, some close to storage points gets more water than others.
- The burden of shortfall falls mainly on the poor. The middle class is able to cope through private means like water tankers or bottled water. The wealthy have more choices.
- Even in the case of access to ‘safe’ water—the wealthy and middle class has options, like mineral water, and the poor again left out.
3. 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 – Due to the sale of water by farmers to water dealers, the groundwater levels have dropped drastically in all these towns and villages. Local people are facing severe shortages of water. Local people can object to such exploitation of groundwater. Being, a natural resource, under-ground water should not be overused. The government can penalize the farmers as well as water dealers.
4. Why are most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?
Answer – Private hospitals and private schools are located only in major cities as the services they offer are very costly and only the affluent city dweller will be able to afford it.
5. Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain.
Answer – The distribution of public facilities in our country is not adequate and fair. For example, in Delhi, all public facilities like water, healthcare, and sanitation, electricity, public transport, schools, and colleges are available. But if we go few kilometers away, for example, Mathura or Aligarh the public facilities are not adequate. Electricity cut-offs, water shortages are normal routines of life. Public transport is also not properly developed.
6. 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.
| Is it available? | How can it be improved? | |
| Water | ||
| Electricity | ||
| Road | ||
| Public Transport |
Answer –
| Is it available? | How can it be improved? | |
| Water | yes | Constructing separate water tanks and making water supply available 24 hours. |
| Electricity | yes | Making electricity supply available 24 hours by keeping a check on electricity theft and its conservation |
| Road | yes | No improvement needed. But if there are no proper roads, then the construction of new roads, more flyovers and highways will be of help |
| Public Transport | yes | Public transport is good, but better connectivity to more areas in the city can be achieved by introducing new buses and increasing the frequency of buses |
7. Are the above public facilities shared equally by all the people in your area? Elaborate.
Answer – Yes, the above public facilities are shared equally by all the people in our area.
8. Data on some of the public facilities are collected as part of the Census. Discuss with your teacher when and how the Census is conducted.
Answer – Students have to do this under the guidance of their teacher.
9. 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 – Private educational institutions are coming up in a big way while educational institutes run by the government are becoming relatively less important. The impact of this Would be as follows:
- Government institutions will gradually lose importance.
- The poor people will not be able to get higher education since they cannot afford high fees in private institutions.
- It will be unjust for the economically poor and weaker sections of our society.
