NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 7 Confronting Marginalization
Public Facilities – Given in this post is NCERT Solutions Class 8 Civics Chapter 7 Public Facilities Important Question Answers. The important questions we have compiled will help the students to brush up on their knowledge about the subject. Students can practice Class 8 Civics Chapter 7 important questions to understand the subject better and improve their performance in the exam. The NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (Civics) provided here will also give students an idea about how to write the answers.
Source Based Questions
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow-
A. Water is essential for life and for good health. Not only is it necessary for us to be able to meet our daily needs but safe drinking water can prevent many water-related diseases. India has one of the largest number of cases of diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, cholera. Over 1,600 Indians, most of them children below the age of five, reportedly die everyday because of water-related diseases. These deaths can be prevented if people have access to safe drinking water. The Constitution of India recognises the right to water as being a part of the Right to Life under Article 21. This means that it is the right of every person, whether rich or poor, to have sufficient amounts of water to fulfill his/her daily needs at a price that he/she can afford. In other words, there should be universal access to water.
1 According to sources, how many Indians die of water-related diseases each year?
Ans. India has one of the largest number of cases of diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, cholera. Over 1,600 Indians, most of them children below the age of five, reportedly die everyday because of water-related diseases
2 How can water disease caused deaths be prevented?
Ans. These deaths can be prevented if people have access to safe drinking water.
3 Safe drinking water cannot prevent many water-related diseases. True/False?
Ans. False, Safe drinking water can prevent many water-related diseases.
4 The Constitution of India recognises the right to water as being a part of the __________ under Article____.
Ans. The Constitution of India recognises the right to water as being a part of the Right to Life under Article 21.
5 Explain Right to water.
Ans. The Constitution of India recognises the right to water as being a part of the Right to Life under Article 21. This means that it is the right of every person, whether rich or poor, to have sufficient amounts of water to fulfill his/her daily needs at a price that he/she can afford. In other words, there should be universal access to water.
B. The important characteristic of a public facility is that once it is provided, its benefits can be shared by many people. For instance, a school in the village will enable many children to get educated. Similarly, the supply of electricity to an area can be useful for many people: farmers can run pumpsets to irrigate their fields, people can open small workshops that run on electricity, students will find it easier to study and most people in the village will benefit in some way or the other.
1 What are public facilities?
Ans. There are certain facilities that everyone needs and should be provided for everyone, like electricity, schools, public transport,etc. These are referred to as public facilities.
2 What is an important characteristic of public facilities?
Ans. The important characteristic of a public facility is that once it is provided, its benefits can be shared by many people.
3 Give an example from the above paragraph of the benefit of public facilities.
Ans. For instance, a school in the village will enable many children to get educated.
4 Who provides the citizens with the public facilities?
Ans. Essentially, it is the role of the government to provide citizens with public facilities.
5 Do citizens play a role in the development of public facilities?
Ans. Yes, it is through the taxes paid by citizens only, that fund the development of public facilities.
C. Water supply in Chennai, as we saw at the beginning of the chapter, is marked by shortages. Municipal supply meets only about half the needs of the people of the city, on an average. There are areas which get water more regularly than others. Those areas that are close to the storage points get more water whereas colonies further away receive less water. The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the poor. The middle class, when faced with water shortages, are able to cope through a variety of private means such as digging borewells, buying water from tankers and using bottled water for drinking.
1 Is there sufficient supply of water in Chennai?
Ans. No, Water supply in Chennai is marked by shortages.
2 Municipal supply meets only about half the needs of the people of the city, on an average. True/False?
Ans. True, Municipal supply meets only about half the needs of the people of the city, on an average.
3 Why do some areas get more water supply than others?
Ans. There are areas which get water more regularly than others. Those areas that are close to the storage points get more water whereas colonies further away receive less water.
4 The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the _________.
Ans. The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the poor.
5 How do the middle class cope with the shortage of water supply?
Ans. The middle class, when faced with water shortages, are able to cope through a variety of private means such as digging borewells, buying water from tankers and using bottled water for drinking.
D. The situation in Chennai is not unique. A similar scenario of shortages and acute crisis during the summer months is common to other cities of India. The shortage in municipal water is increasingly being filled by an expansion of private companies who are selling water for profit. Also common are the great inequalities in water use. The supply of water per person in an urban area in India should be about 135 liters per day (about seven buckets) – a standard set by the Urban Water Commission. Whereas people in slums have to make do with less than 20 liters a day per person (one bucket), people living in luxury hotels may consume as much as 1,600 liters (80 buckets) of water per day.
1 Is water shortage a regular occurrence only in Chennai?
Ans. No. The situation in Chennai is not unique. A similar scenario of shortages and acute crisis during the summer months is common to other cities of India.
2 How is the shortage of municipal water being increasingly filled?
Ans. The shortage in municipal water is increasingly being filled by an expansion of private companies who are selling water for profit.
3 The supply of water per person in an urban area in India should be about ________ liters per day
Ans. The supply of water per person in an urban area in India should be about 135 liters per day
4 How much do people in slums consume water in contrast to people living in luxury hotels?
Ans. People in slums have to make do with less than 20 liters a day per person (one bucket), people living in luxury hotels may consume as much as 1,600 liters (80 buckets) of water per day.
5 Is shortage of municipal water a sign of the government’s failure?
Ans. A shortage of municipal water is often taken as a sign of failure of the government. Some people argue that since the government is unable to supply the amount of water that is needed and many of the municipal water departments are running at a loss, we should allow private companies to take over the task of water supply. According to them, private companies can perform better.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (1 Mark)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a person is asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available options. An MCQ presents a question along with several possible answers.
Q1 ____ has one of the largest number of cases of diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, cholera
A) Japan
B) India
C) China
D) Pakistan
Ans. B) India
Q2. The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the
A) Poor
B) Rich
C) Politician
D) Lawyers
Ans. A) Poor
Q3 Which of the following is not the essential goods
A) Sugar
B) Car
C) Kerosene
D) Food grains
Ans. B) Car
Q4 Which areas in Chennai face severe water shortages?
A) Madipakkam
B) Mylapore
C) Slums near Saidapet
D) All these areas
Ans. D) All these areas
Q5 How can we prevent water related diseases?
A) By using pond water
B) By using clean and safe water
C) By using boring water
D) All of these
Ans. B) By using clean and safe water
Q6 Who carries the responsibility of providing public facilities to the people?
A) Government
B) Public
C) Private organization
D) None of these
Ans. A) Government
Q7 What are the main sources of water?
A) Municipal water
B) Borewell
C) River water
D) All of these
Ans. D) All of these
Q8 Equity in the schooling facilities available to all children is an important aspect of
A) Right to school
B) Right to safety
C) Right to education
D) Right to life
Ans. C) Right to education
Q9 Right to ______ is a Fundamental Right.
A) unhygienic drinking water
B) safe drinking water
C) contaminated drinking water
D) drinking water
Ans. B) safe drinking water
Q10 Which of the following is the most important public transport?
A) Aeroplane
B) Boat
C) Buses
D) Cars
Ans. C) Buses
Q11 What are Public facilities?
A) Essential facilities
B) Non Essential facilities
C) Both (a) and (b)
D) None of these
Ans. A) Essential facilities
Q12 Where does the government get funds for providing Public facilities?
A) Income Tax collected from the people
B) Fines collected from the people
C) Other taxes collected from the people
D) All of these
Ans. D) All of these
Q13 Which of the following is a water related disease?
A) Plague
B) Eye flu
C) Cholera
D) All of these
Ans. C) Cholera
Q14 Which facility, besides safe drinking water, is necessary to prevent water-borne disease?
A) Sanitation
B) Transport
C) Road
D) All of these
Ans. A) Sanitation
Q15 Public facilities are so important, someone must carry the responsibility of providing these to the people. This “someone” is the
A) Government
B) Court
C) Politicians
D) Judge
Ans. A) Government
Q16 Indian Constitution has recognized ______ as a Part of Right to Life.
A) Water
B) Education
C) Caste
D) Untouchability
Ans. A) Water
Q17 Everyday around ____ kids are dying in India due to diseases caused after taking contaminated water.
A) 1200
B) 1600
C) 1000
D) 1500
Ans. B) 1600
Q18 Healthcare is an example of _______.
A) Public Facilities
B) Right to Education
C) Crime
D) Career
Ans. A) Public Facilities
Q19 All the children between the age of ____ years must exercise Right to Education.
A) 5 to 9
B) 6 to 12
C) 6 to 14
D) 3 to 12
Ans. C) 6 to 14
Q20 _____ are one of the mostly used transport for short distances
A) Aeroplanes
B) trains
C) buses
D) Ships
Ans. C) buses
Q21 Every Indian citizen residing in the Urban region must get at least _____ liters of water every day.
A) 130
B) 129
C) 133
D) 135
Ans. D) 135
Q22 ____ is a city from Brazil
A) New York
B) Shanghai
C) Porto Alegre
D) Colombo
Ans. C) Porto Alegre
Q23 _____article recognizes the right to Water
A) Article 12
B) Article 15
C) Article 21
D) None of these
Ans. C) Article 21
Q24 Public Facilities are better if provided by the Government.
A) True
B) False
C) Cannot be determined
D) Private sector must provide
Ans. A) True
Q25 Public Facilities that can be provided by a Private company are
A) School
B) College
C) healthcare
D) All of these
Ans. D) All of these
Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)
Q1. Why do the residents of Subramanian’s Apartments in Mylapore use borewell water in their toilets for washing?
Ans. It is because borewell water is brackish.
Q2. How do the people manage water for other uses?
Ans. For other uses, the people purchase water from tankers.
Q3. Why is safe drinking water necessary for all?
Ans. Safe drinking water can prevent many water related\ diseases such as diarrhea and cause untimely death of several Indians.
Q4. What is meant by ‘public facilities’?
Ans. Things like water, healthcare, sanitation, electricity, public transport, schools and colleges are essential facilities that need to be provided for everyone. These are known as public facilities.
Q5. What are the basic needs of human beings?
Ans. Food, water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and education are necessary for survival and are known as basic needs of human beings..
Q6. What is the position of water availability in the slum area where Padma lives?
Ans. For 30 hutments there is a common tap at one corner, in which water comes from a borewell for 20 minutes twice daily.
Q7. What does Right to Water mean?
Ans. It means that it is the right of every person, whether rich or poor, to have sufficient amounts of water to fulfill his/her daily needs at a price that he/she can afford.
Q8. How can deaths due to diarrhea and dysentery be prevented?
Ans. By making safe drinking water accessible to all.
Q9. How do private companies supply drinking water to city people?
Ans. Private companies supply drinking water to city people in sealed bottles.
Q10. Write one important characteristic of a public facility.
Ans. Once it is provided, its benefits can be shared by many people.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
Q1. What are public facilities? What are its important characteristics?
Ans. Primary necessities such as food, water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, education, and so on are referred to as public facilities. The important feature of public facilities is that the benefits they bring can be shared by a large number of individuals.
For example, a school in a hamlet will allow many youngsters to receive an education.
Q2. Why do you think that there are so few cases of private water supply in the world?
Ans. There are so few cases of private water supply in the world as It is more expensive and private companies only think of their profits so people cannot afford it.
Q3. Why are most of the private hospitals & private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?
Ans. Most private schools and hospitals are located in major cities since electricity is not always available in small towns and rural areas, and hospitals and schools require steady supply. As a result, there are no hospitals or schools in rural areas.
Q4. Write a short note on “Water a part of fundamental Right to Life”.
Ans. 1. Article 21 of India’s constitution recognised the right to water as a component of the right to life.
- This means that everyone, affluent or poor, has the right to a sufficient amount of water to meet their daily needs at a reasonable cost.
- “Universal access” to water is required.
Q5. How can you say that there are great inequalities in water use?
Ans. There are significant disparities in water consumption. Water use per person in an Indian city should be around 135 liters (around seven buckets) per day. The Urban Water Commission established this criteria. However, individuals living in slums must make due with fewer than 20 liters (one bucket) of water every day. At the same time, residents of luxury hotels may use up to 1,600 liters (80 buckets) of water every day.
Q6. Some people are of the opinion that private companies should be allowed to take over the task of water supply. Why do they opine so?
Ans. Some argue that because the government is unable to supply the necessary amount of water and many municipal water departments are losing money, private corporations should be allowed to take over the duty of water provision. They believe that private enterprises can outperform public companies.
Q7.‘The benefits of a public facility can be shared by many people’. Explain the examples.
Ans. A key feature of a public facility is that once it is established, its advantages can be enjoyed by a large number of people. A school within the village wall, for example, allows many youngsters to receive an education. Similarly, the availability of power in a given location might be beneficial to a large number of people.
Q8. What do you mean by the term ‘sanitation’? Why is it essential? Who are the people lacking access to it?
Ans. The provision of facilities for the safe disposal of human urine and feces is referred to as sanitation. This is accomplished by the construction of toilets and pipes for sewerage and waste water treatment. This is required to avoid infection. People in extreme poverty do not have access to sanitation.
Q9. Some people are of the opinion that private companies should be allowed to take over the task of water supply. Why do they opine so?
Ans. Some argue that because the government is unable to supply the necessary amount of water and many municipal water departments are losing money, private corporations should be allowed to take over the duty of water provision. They believe that private enterprises can outperform public companies.
Q10. In some parts of the country water supply has been improved. Explain giving examples of Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Ans. The Mumbai water supply agency earns enough money from water tariffs to pay its operating costs. According to a recent report from Hyderabad, the department has boosted coverage and improved tax collection performance.
In Chennai, the government has taken many steps to enhance groundwater levels by gathering rainfall. It has also engaged private enterprises for water transportation and distribution.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
Q1. Discuss the role of the government in regard to public facilities.
Ans. Our basic requirements are related to public infrastructure. Many public facilities are recognised in our Constitution as part of the Right to Life. As a result, the government must ensure that these rights are safeguarded so that everyone can live a dignified life. However, its attempts are not entirely successful. There is a supply shortage, and there are inequities in distribution. Metros and large cities are not in disrepair, but towns and villages are underserved. Poorer communities are underserved in comparison to wealthier communities.
The government is expected to take steps to make all public facilities accessible to all citizens. In terms of cooperation, we must work with the government.
Q2. Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain.
Ans. Our country’s distribution of public facilities, such as the right to water, health, and education, is insufficient and unequal.The primary responsibility of government is to provide enough public facilities for all citizens. However, progress in this area is far from sufficient. There is inequity and unpredictability in water supply distribution.
In comparison to metropolitan and large cities, towns and villages have a limited amount of water.
Poorer communities are underserved in comparison to wealthier communities. Slum dwellers face numerous challenges. They also have an extremely limited water supply. For example, The upscale colonies in Delhi, such as Anand Niketan, have all modern and sophisticated facilities.
Unauthorized settlements lack public facilities.
Q3. Do you think water is available in Chennai and affordable to all? Discuss.
Ans. Water supply in Chennai is marked by shortages. Municipal supply satisfies only approximately half of the city’s needs on average. Some neighborhoods receive more water on a regular basis than others. Colonies near storage points receive more water, whereas colonies further away receive less.
Aside from the availability of water, some people have access to safe drinking water, depending on their financial situation. The poor bear the brunt of the burden of water supply shortages.
When faced with water shortages, the middle class is able to cope by a variety of private measures, such as drilling bore wells, burying water from tankers, and drinking bottled water.
Q4. 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?
Ans. Many private corporations supply water to cities by burying it from farmers in nearby areas. This has the following consequences on the locals:
- Groundwater levels have plummeted dramatically.
- Water is taken away for agricultural purposes.
- The village’s drinking water supply is also impacted.
- It will have an effect on the water rate.
Local residents may object to such ground water exploitation because it violates their fundamental rights, including the right to life, which includes the right to water. Yes, the government can take actions to avoid such a situation.
Q5. Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair?
Ans. While there is no doubt that public facilities should be made available to all, we see a severe shortage of such facilities in reality. The underprivileged bear the brunt of the burden of facility shortages. When faced with such scarcity, the middle class is able to cope through a variety of private measures. It is true that those who cannot afford to pay for such amenities will be denied the option to live a happy life.
For example, Mr. Ramagopal, a wealthy man, lives in Anna Nagar, Chennai. This region appears lush and green, with lawns kept in good condition by liberal watering. For most of the day, the bungalows here have access to running water.
On days when the water supply is insufficient, Mr. Aanagopal contacts a senior official from the local water board, and a water tanker is quickly arranged for his house.
Q6. What do you think can be done to conserve water and improve its supply?
Ans. The following can be done to conserve water and improve its supply:-
- The most important step in conserving water is to use it wisely and prudently.
- Several programmes for rainwater gathering are required to improve ground water levels.
- It also necessitates the employment of private company services for water transportation and distribution to assure consistent supply.
- Every citizen of the country has an equal right to all services offered by the government.
Q7. Why do you think that the government must assume the overall responsibility for public facilities even if it gets private companies to do a part of it?
Ans. The Government must assume the overall responsibility for public facilities even if it gets private companies to do a part of it because:-
- In the market, private enterprises compete for profit.
- There is no profit to be earned in the majority of public facilities. As a result, private enterprises are unlikely to be interested in taking on such jobs.
- Private corporations deliver public services at prices that only a small percentage of the population can afford. As a result, it is not affordable to everyone.
- Public facilities are concerned with people’s basic requirements. The right to life is guaranteed in the Indian constitution to all Indians.
- As a result, the responsibility for providing public amenities must be solely that of the government.
Q8. Compare the availability of water in different regions of Chennai.
Ans. Anna Nagar in Chennai is a wealthy neighborhood. It appears luscious green and green with lawns that have been adequately watered. For most of the day, the bungalows here have access to running water.
The Subramanian’s Apartments in Mylapore are experiencing a water shortage. This region, like most of the city, receives municipal water once every two days. A private borewell to meet some of the occupants’ water demands. Although borewell water is brackish, locals appreciate it because it is used in toilets and for washing. They buy water from tankers for different purposes.
They have installed a water filtration system in their homes for drinking water.
Madipakkam’s residents are experiencing a severe water shortage. People receive water once every four days. They buy bottled water for drinking.
The Saidapet slum is a collection of huts without running water. A shared tap in one corner serves water from a borewell for 20 minutes twice a day for 30 hutments. Within this time, a household may fill no more than three buckets. The same water is used for drinking and washing. Water trickles in the summer. As a result, one family only receives water at the expense of another. People must wait for hours for tankers to deliver water.
Q9. Write a short note on Sulabh International.
Ans. Sulabh International is a social service organization headquartered in India that seeks to promote human rights, environmental cleanliness, non-conventional energy sources, waste management, and social reforms through education. Sulabh was started in 1970 by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak and now has 50,000 volunteers.
The organization builds and maintains Sulabh Complexes, which provide bath, laundry, and urinal facilities and are utilized by over ten million people every day.
There are over 7,500 public restrooms and 1.2 million private restrooms. The bulk of Sulabh facility users come from the working class.
Q10. Why are most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?
Ans. Most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas because:-
- Life moves quickly in major cities. People can not stand in lengthy lines for hours on end, as they must at government hospitals.
- They can afford it because they have cash on hand.
- City dwellers are more aspirational than people living in the rural areas.
- City dwellers anticipate improved facilities at private hospitals and schools.
- Infrastructural facilities are more abundant in private schools as compared with public or government schools.
Also See: