Civics

Public Facilities

Question:

Write a paragraph on the various roles of the government that you have read about in this unit.

Answer:

The common man is exploited in most societies. When this happens it is the duty of the government to ensure that social justice prevails and all the citizens can establish their rights. The government has passed many laws to guarantee that workers are not exploited by unscrupulous employers Payment of Wages Act, 1936; Minimum Wages Act, 1948; Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 are some of the Acts that ensure that workers are not underpaid and exploited. The government has passed the Factories Act, 1948. This Act regulates health, safety, welfare and other working conditions of workers in factories. It is enforced by the State Governments through their factory inspectorates. The Consumer Protection Act ensures that the consumer is not put to risk by the poor quality of products such as electrical appliances, food and medicines. The Bureau of Indian Standards is a government organization that oversees the quality of products sold. The government has also passed laws that ensure that essential products such as food grains, sugar and kerosene are not highly priced. The Environment (protection) Act, 1986, was passed to protect the environment and avert health hazards to human beings. Prohibition of Employment of Young Children protects children from being exploited. No child who has not completed his fourteenth year shall be required or allowed to work in any factory The Trade Unions Act, 1926 provides for registration of trade unions with a view to render lawful organisation of labour to enable collective bargaining.
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Public Facilities

Q 1.

Mention some public facilities that only the government can provide and maintain.

Q 2.

How can laws ensure that markets work in a manner that is fair? Give two examples to support your answer.

Q 3.

What are the advantages to foreign companies in setting up production in India?

Q 4.

What is Universal Access to water?

Q 5.

How can the government ensure social justice?

Q 6.

Which Article in the Indian Constitution recognises the "right to water"?

Q 7.

How was environment treated earlier? What has been the change in perception?

Q 8.

Mention some public facilities that are provided by the government.

Q 9.

What are the characteristics of Public facilities?

Q 10.

Do you think water in Chennai is available and affordable by all? Discuss.

Q 11.

What were the reasons for the Bhopal tragedy?

Q 12.

What are the reasons for the sharp differences in safety standards between the 2 Union carbide factories in the USA and India?

Q 13.

What is sanitation?

Q 14.

Write a paragraph on the various roles of the government that you have read about in this unit.

Q 15.

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 ground water? Can the government do anything in this regard?

Q 16.

What do we mean when we speak of law enforcement? Who is responsible for enforcement? Why is enforcement so important?

Q 17.

What is a Government Budget?

Q 18.

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.

Q 19.

How do government certifications like the ISI certification help the consumer?

Q 20.

Do you think the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy got justice? Discuss.

Q 21.

Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain.

Q 22.

In what way was the Government responsible for the Bhopal tragedy?

Q 23.

Why do you think there are so few cases of private water supply in the world?

Q 24.

Why are most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?

Q 25.

What do you think the famous cartoonist R.K. Laxman is trying to convey in this cartoon? How does it relate to the 2006 law that you read about on page 125?

Q 26.

Mention a few public facilities that are provided by private companies.

Q 27.

Write a short note on Sulabh International.

Q 28.

How does the government raise fund to provide public facilities?

Q 29.

Write a brief note on the Bhopal gas tragedy.