SST Civics Chapter 7: Public Facilities PDF

# Chapter 7: Public Facilities ## The Importance of Public Facilities - Public facilities are provided by the government for all citizens. - Examples include: health, sanitation, water, electricity, public transport, schools and colleges. - It is important that they benefit many people. - For...

# Chapter 7: Public Facilities ## The Importance of Public Facilities - Public facilities are provided by the government for all citizens. - Examples include: health, sanitation, water, electricity, public transport, schools and colleges. - It is important that they benefit many people. - For example, a school in a village will enable many people to study. - Likewise, electricity will be useful for the whole area. ## Water and the People of Chennai - Mr Iyengar, a government officer in Anna Nagar, Chennai, has a lush lawn and adequate water at his disposal. - Water tankers are supplied on days when water is short in Madipakkam - Mr Subramaniam, who lives in an apartment, has inadequate water. - He has to spend ₹ 500-600 per month on buying water. - Laxmi, a domestic helper living in a nearby slum, has no bathroom or a tap connection. - She gets three buckets of water after waiting in long queues. - This illustrates that the availability of water as a public utility varies according to the person’s socioeconomic status. ## Is Water a Fundamental Right? - Over 1,600 Indians die every day because of water-borne diseases. - The Constitution of India recognizes the right to water as part of a right to life under Article 21. - This implies that everyone has a right to enough water to fulfill their needs. - There should be universal access to water. - Several court judgments uphold the right to safe drinking water as a fundamental right. ## Government’s Role - Public facilities like safe drinking water are very important. - Someone needs to be responsible for providing them to the people. - That responsibility is entrusted to the government. - Private companies are only interested in making profits, and so are not interested in providing water to everyone. - They cannot supply water at affordable prices without denying the right of people to live decently. - Public facilities are part of people’s basic needs and a part of their right to life. - The government collects revenue through taxes to provide these facilities. ## The Government’s Budget - The government budget is an account of government expenses and plans for the following year. - The budget explains how the government will meet its expenses. - The main source of revenue is taxes collected form citizens. - The government spends money on: - Pumping water, - Carrying water over long distances, - Laying pipes for distribution, - Treating the water for impurities, - Collecting and treating waste water. ## Is Water Available to All in Chennai? - While public facilities should be available to all, there is an acute shortage of water in Chennai. - The municipality supplied water. - The rich and the middle class can afford alternative sources of water like borewells or buying water. - In reality, the majority of the population, the poor, do not have general access to sufficient and safe water. - The market is flooded with bottled water, which is affordable only to the rich. ## Are Alternatives Available? - This situation is similar throughout India. - There are great inequalities in the usage of water. - People in slums have access to only 20 liters of water per day. - People living in luxury hotels may consume up to 1,600 liters of water per day. - A shortage of water is a failure of the government. - There are several facts which need attention. - Water is supplied by the government all over the world. - Private water supply is rare. - Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad have successfully launched: - Initiates on supplying water, - Rainwater harvesting - Hiring private contractors on contract. ## The Role of Public Sanitation and Public Facilities - The picture in India is far from satisfactory. - One successful attempt at public utility is the work of public sanitation in the form of hiring services of an NGO, Sulabh. - They built 7,000 public toilet blocks and 1.2 million private toilets for approximately 10 million urban and rural people. - The Census of India cites rural household electrification at 44 percent, leaving 78 million households in the dark. - Public facilities relate to basic needs like water, health, education, electricity, etc. - Government has a role to ensure adequate public facilities for all. - There is an unequal distribution of public facilities. - The solution should take into account the important right that every citizen in the country should have the right to use these facilities in an equitable manner. ## Government-Provided Public Facilities - The government has provided us with certain public facilities like water, electricity, etc. - It is crucial that individual citizens play a conscious role to safeguard our water and energy supplies. - If we do not do that, the government cannot be held responsible for failure to provide us these basic utilities. ## Textbook Exercise ### **Q1.** Why do you think there are so few cases of private water supply in the world? - When the responsibility for water supply was handed over to private companies, there was a steep rise in the price of water making it unaffordable for many people. ### **Q2.** Do you think water in Chennai is available and affordable by all? Discuss. - No, water in Chennai, is not available and affordable by all. Municipal supply meets only about half the needs of the people of the city on an average. Poor people suffer the most at the time of shortage of water supply. ### **Q3.** How is the sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai affecting the local people? Do you think local people can object such exploitation of groundwater? Can the government do anything in this regard? - The sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai has badly affected local people. They have to face acute water crisis in their life. Groundwater levels have dropped drastically in all these towns and villages. - Yes, the people can object to such exploitation by raising their voices through protests and media reports. They can also file public interest litigation in the courts. They can form associations and then approach the farmers directly also. - The government can ban private companies from entering in towns and villages and can punish those farmers who indulge in this activity for more profit. ### **Q4.** Why are most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas? - Private hospitals and private schools are located in major cities because their service is expensive and people in rural areas cannot afford them. ### **Q5.** Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain - No, the distribution of public facilities in our country is neither adequate nor fair. - For example, water supply: People who are rich can afford as much water they want to consume but the poor people do not even get regular municipal water supply for at least once a day. ### **Q6.** Take some of the public facilities in your area, such as water, electricity, etc. is there a scope to improve these? What in your opinion should be done? | Public Facilities | Is it available? | How can it be improved? | |:---:|:---:|:---:| | Water | No | Pipeline to be extended from other colonies. | | Electricity | Yes | State Government should take initiative. | | Roads | Yes | Municipal Corporation should take initiative. | | Public Transport | No | Municipal Corporation should take initiative. | ### **Q7.** Are the above-mentioned public facilities shared equally by all the people in your area? Elaborate. - No, the above-mentioned public facilities are not shared equally by all the people. Those people who are rich can enjoy these facilities and those who are poor suffer a lot. ### **Q8.** 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 to all the people in India? - Every 10 years the census is conducted. It counts the entire population of the country. It collects detailed information of almost all the people living in India, their age, schooling, profession, etc. ### **Q9**. 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 - Yes, it is a fact that private educational institutions are gaining popularity as compared to the government run institutions. It will have a multitudinous effect on India in the long run. Private institutes charge high fees and seem to cater to elite class than poor. It is the flip side of the capitalism, which privatisation entails. Poor people cannot afford to educate their children in private institutes, hence government-run institutes will soon become inessential. Consequently, gap between rich and poor will escalate. India's position in the global economy is strengthening because of the education sector as private institutes offer wide range of exposure to knowledge and information. They provide excellent platforms to the students to compete and get trained to be a global citizen. Nevertheless, government should try to provide good facilities at lower costs to prove the representation of democratic nation ## Competency-Focused Questions (As per NEP) ### **Q1.** Match the following | Column I | Column II | |:---:|:---:| | (i) Public Transport | (a) Water-borne disease | | (ii) Cholera | (b) Article 21 | | (iii) Sulabh | (c) Bus | | (iv) Right to Life | (d) Non-governmental | **Correct Answer:** (i)- (c), (ii)-(a), (iii)-(d), (iv)-(b) ### **Q2.** Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Choose the appropriate answer out of the following choices. **Assertion (A): ** Throughout the world, water supply is a function of the government. **Reason (R):** There are areas in the world where public water supply has achieved universal access **Correct Answer**: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A). ### **Q3.** Choose the correct statements from the given options: **Statement (i):** Private companies provide public facilities but at a price that only some people can afford. **Statement (ii):** The Indian Constitution guarantees the right to education for all children between the ages of 1-14 years. **Correct Answer**: (a) Statement (i) only ## Case-Based Questions **Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:** Every year you must have heard the government budget being presented in the Parliament. This is an account of the expenses the government has made on its programmes in the past year and how much it plans to spend in the coming year. In the budget, the government also announces the various ways in which it plans to meet these expenses. The main source of revenue for the government is the taxes collected from the people, and the government is empowered to collect these taxes and use them for such programmes. For instance, to supply water, the government has to incur costs in pumping water, carrying it over long distances, laying down pipes for distribution, treating the water for impurities, and finally, collecting and treating waste water. It meets these expenses partly from the various taxes that it collects and partly by charging a price for water. This price is set so that most people can afford a certain minimum amount of water for daily use. ### **Q1.** Where does government present the budget? - Government presents the budget in the Parliament every year. ### **Q2.** From where government does its expenses? - Government collects various taxes that it collects and use it for expenses. ### **Q3.** Give the name of public utilities provided by the government. - Water, Education, Health facilities, Transport facilities ## Questions for Practice ### Objective Type Questions **A. Multiple Choice Questions** **1.** ‘Sulabh’ and private toilets give sanitation to ____ people in India. - (a) 8 million - (b) 9 million - (c) 10 million - (d) 11 million **Answer: (b) 9 million** **2.** Public facilities are provided by: - (a) government - (b) people - (c) corporations - (d) both (a) and (c) **Answer: (a) government** **3.** Who guarantees the Right to Education for all children between the ages of 6-14 years? - (a) President - (b) Parliament - (c) Lok Sabha - (d) Indian Constitution **Answer: (d) Indian Constitution** **4.** How much money was spent on the construction of the first segment of Metro-rail in Delhi? - (a) 10,000 crore - (b) 12,000 crore - (c) 11,000 crore - (d) 13,000 crore **Answer: (d) 13,000 crore** **5.** What are Public facilities? - (i) Healthcare - (ii) Sanitation - (iii) Public transport - (iv) School and colleges - (v) Electricity - (vi) M.C.D **Answer: (a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)** **6.** Choose the correct answer. Central Government spends money on: - (i) States’ share of terms and duties - (ii) Interest payments - (iii) Defence - (iv) Other expenditures **Answer: (c) All of these** ### B. Fill in the blanks: 1. _____ city faces shortage of water supply. - **Answer: Chennai** 2. _____ provides Right to Life. - **Answer: The Constitution of India** 3. A shortage of ______ is often taken as a sign of failure of the government. - **Answer: water** 4. Major role of the government is to ensure adequate ______ for everyone. - **Answer: water** 5. Only people with ____ have the right to water. - **Answer: money** 6. In ______ areas, water is needed both for human use and for use by the cattle. - **Answer: rural** 7. The ______ companies operate for profit in the market. - **Answer: Private** ### C. State whether True or False: 1. Benefits of public facility can be provided to all. - **Answer: False** 2. Census of 2001 puts rural household at 44 per cent - **Answer: True** 3. Private companies provide public facilities a price that only some people can afford. - **Answer: True** 4. Healthcare and Sanitation also come in private facilities. - **Answer: True** 5. Article 17, abolishes untouchable. - **Answer: True** 6. The Indian Constitution guarantees the right to education for all children between the ages of 1-14 years. - **Answer: True** ### D. Answer the following questions in brief. 1. Is water a fundamental right? - **Answer: Yes. The Constitution of India recognizes the right to water as part of a right to life under Article 21.** 2. Is water available to all in Chennai? - **Answer: No. There is an acute shortage of water in Chennai.** 3. What do you mean by public facilities? - **Answer: Public facilities refer to services that are provided by the government for the use and benefit of the public. These services are usually essential for everyday life and are often funded through taxes collected from the people.** 4. Write a short note on Sulabh. - **Answer: Sulabh is a non-governmental organization that provides clean and hygienic public toilets in urban and rural areas of India. They have made a significant contribution to public sanitation in the country. They have built thousands of public toilet blocks and millions of private toilets, providing sanitation for millions of people. Sulabh is known for its innovative approach and for empowering the underprivileged.** 5. Mention public facilities. - **Answer: Public facilities include health, sanitation, water, electricity, public transport, schools and colleges.** 6. What is government’s role? - **Answer: The role of the government is to provide basic public facilities to its citizens, ensuring that all people, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to these essential services. This includes things like safe drinking water, sanitation, education, healthcare, public transport and other infrastructure.** 7. How do private companies supplying water take advantage of public facilities? - **Answer: Private companies supplying water often take advantage of public facilities, like public infrastructure, to reduce their costs and increase their profits. They might use public water pipes and treatment plants to deliver water to their customers, while charging a higher price for their service. This can make it challenging for people who cannot afford private water services to access safe drinking water, which is a fundamental human right**. ### E. Answer the following questions in detail. 1. Who makes provisions for essential services? - The government has a responsibility to make provisions for essential services, such as water, sanitation, education, healthcare, and transportation, among others. This involves setting up and maintaining the necessary infrastructure to provide these services to the public. They also play a role in regulating the provision of services by private companies to ensure quality and accessibility. 2. Are public facilities part of Right to Life? - Public facilities are a vital part of the Right to Life because they provide access to the basic amenities and services that are essential for a healthy and dignified existence. This includes access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, housing, education, and transportation. Without these facilities, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for individuals to live a meaningful life. 3. Are public facilities available universally? - No, public facilities are not available universally, especially in developing countries like India. There are significant inequalities in the distribution and quality of public facilities, with urban, wealthy areas often having much better access to services than rural or marginalized communities. This disparity can be attributed to a number of factors, including government policies, funding constraints, and lack of infrastructure in certain regions, leading to disparities in the availability and quality of public facilities across different regions and social groups. 4. Define Right to Water. - The Right to Water is a fundamental human right that recognizes the importance of access to safe and sufficient water for all. It is a critical right that is essential for life, health, and well-being. The Right to Water should be available to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, geographic location, or any other discriminatory factor. Individuals and communities should have access to clean, affordable, and sustainable water sources for drinking, sanitation, and other essential purposes. 5. Mention the condition of poor people and middle at the time of shortage of water. - During a water shortage, the conditions of poor and middle-class people can be drastically different. Poor people often lack access to safe and clean water sources, and they may have to travel long distances to collect water, which can be time-consuming and physically demanding. They may not have the financial resources to purchase bottled water or other alternatives. Meanwhile, middle-class people may have access to alternative water sources, such as borewells or private tankers, but they will still be affected by the shortage in terms of higher water bills and other inconvenience. 6. How is water taken away from farmers? - In regions where water is scarce, farmers may be forced to sell their water to private companies or water dealers. This practice, often driven by desperation due to drought or insufficient irrigation, has a negative impact on farming and agricultural production. Farmers may be coerced into selling their water at low prices, leading to financial hardship and potentially jeopardizing food security. This exploitation of water resources can have serious consequences for local communities and the economy. 7. Where does the government get money for public facilities? - The government primarily relies on tax revenue from its citizens to finance public facilities. This includes taxes from income, property, goods and services, and other sources. The government allocates these tax revenues collected from the public to various public programs and projects, including the provision of public facilities. 8. Why is alternative looked for in place of the government for the public facilities? - Sometimes, people look for alternatives beyond the government when they feel that the government is not adequately fulfilling its responsibility in providing public facilities. This could be due to lack of proper planning, inefficient delivery of services, corruption, neglecting certain regions, or other factors. As a result, communities may turn to NGOs, private organizations, or community-based initiatives to address the needs that aren't being met by the government and provide essential services to the public. 9. Describe how private companies perform. - Private companies, driven by profit motives, tend to focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness, utilizing their resources strategically to maximize profits. Their performance can be driven by factors such as market demands, competition, technological advancements, and consumer preferences. They often strive to offer innovative solutions and enhance service delivery while keeping costs low. However, their profit-driven approach also means they might prioritize certain segments of the population, leading to inequities in access to services. 10. Examine the important characteristics of a public facility. - Public facilities are characterized by their accessibility and affordability. They are designed to serve a large population, ensuring that as many people as possible benefit from the services provided. Additionally, they have a broader social and economic impact, promoting health, well-being, and overall development. These facilities are crucial in supporting the well-being of communities and fostering social equity and inclusion. ### **F. Higher Order Thinking Skills [HOTS]** 1. Explore the connection between sanitation facilities and public health outcomes. Can you provide examples of sanitation programs or projects that have led to improved public health in communities? - Sanitation facilities and public health outcomes are closely intertwined. Lack of proper sanitation can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, contributing to mortality, morbidity, and overall poor health within communities. On the other hand, access to good sanitation facilities can significantly improve public health by reducing the incidence of waterborne illnesses, minimizing the spread of infectious diseases, and promoting better hygiene practices. - Here are some examples of sanitation programs or projects that have led to improved public health: - **Community-based sanitation programs:** These programs focus on providing access to toilets and hygiene education to communities, particularly in rural areas where sanitation facilities are often limited. - **Water and sanitation infrastructure development:** Investing in building and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure in both urban and rural areas can significantly reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases and improve public health. - **Waste management systems:** Effective waste management systems, including proper waste collection, segregation, and disposal, play a crucial role in public health. They reduce the risk of environmental contamination and the spread of diseases. - **Hygiene promotion campaigns:** Public health campaigns promoting handwashing, safe sanitation practices, and other hygiene-related behaviors can be effective in reducing illness and improving overall population health. 2. Discuss the importance of effective waste management systems in promoting environmental sustainability. Share examples of waste management practices that contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. - Effective waste management systems are essential for promoting environmental sustainability and creating a healthier environment. Ineffective waste management can lead to various environmental problems, including air and water pollution, soil contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and the spread of diseases. - Examples of waste management practices that contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment: - **Waste segregation and recycling:** Segregating waste at source and recycling recyclable materials can reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and conserve natural resources. - **Composting:** Composting organic waste like food scraps and yard waste creates nutrient-rich soil amendments that can be used for gardening, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. - **Anaerobic digestion:** Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic waste in the absence of oxygen, generating biogas that can be used as a renewable energy source. - Reduced consumption and waste prevention: This involves creating awareness and promoting practices that reduce the generation of waste in the first place, for example, by avoiding single-use plastics and reducing unnecessary packaging. - **Electronic waste management:** Proper collection and recycling of electronic waste are crucial to prevent the release of hazardous substances into the environment. ### **G. Art Integration** 1. Illustrate a scenario where public facilities, such as emergency shelters or healthcare centers, play a crucial role during a natural disaster or crisis. How can art convey the importance of well-maintained public facilities in such situations? - An artwork could depict a powerful scene during a natural disaster, like a major earthquake, where people are seeking refuge in a well-maintained emergency shelter. The shelter could be shown offering safe and comfortable spaces for those affected by the disaster. The art could contrast this with an image of a dilapidated shelter that is inadequate and unsafe, highlighting the significant difference that well-maintained public facilities make. - Through the artwork, a visual narrative emerges, showing the vital role of public facilities in emergency situations. It could portray the compassion and community resilience displayed by those who provide assistance and care through these facilities. The art could also evoke emotions, showcasing the impact of these facilities on people's lives and emphasizing the importance of investing in their maintenance and upkeep, so they can continue to serve their purpose effectively during critical times. 2. Imagine the future of public facilities, considering technological advancements and changing community needs. Create an artwork that envisions innovative public facilities that cater to a modern world. - **A futuristic cityscape:** The artwork could be a depiction of a modern cityscape, with futuristic buildings that are energy-efficient, built with sustainable materials, and equipped with advanced technologies. These buildings could integrate seamlessly into the urban landscape, offering innovative public facilities. - **Smart and interconnected public facilities:** The artwork could showcase smart public facilities that are connected to the internet, allowing for real-time data collection and analysis. This could include smart waste management systems, automated traffic lights for efficient transportation, and sensor-based control systems for optimizing energy use and minimizing environmental impact. - **Accessible public facilities:** The artwork could emphasize the importance of accessibility for everyone, including people with disabilities, older adults, and people with special needs. Public facilities should be designed to be inclusive, promoting inclusivity and ensuring everyone has equal access to essential services. - **Sustainable public facilities:** The artwork should highlight the use of sustainable practices in the design and construction of public facilities. This could include incorporating green roofs, solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and sustainable materials, demonstrating the commitment to environmental stewardship. - **Community-driven public facilities:** The artwork could depict public facilities as dynamic spaces that are designed with community input and evolve to meet the changing needs of the local population. They could provide opportunities for community gatherings, workshops, and recreational activities, enhancing the sense of community and social cohesion.