Answer The Following Question.
1. Why do you think there are so few cases of private water supply in the world?
Ans : Water is a basic necessity, and universal access to clean drinking water is essential for a decent quality of life. It needs to be provided to everyone at affordable rates or for free. However, private companies aim to maximize profits, which often leads to steep price hikes for water when the responsibility for water supply is privatized. This makes water unaffordable for many, resulting in protests and riots. As a result, many governments have taken back water services from private companies, which is why there are few instances of private water supply worldwide.
2. Do you think water in Chennai is available to and affordable by all? Discuss.
Ans : In Chennai, water is not equally available or affordable for all. The municipal supply fails to meet the city’s demand, leading to an erratic water supply in some areas. While middle and upper-class residents can afford packaged water or tanker water, the poor are burdened by the shortage, as they cannot afford these alternatives. Areas near storage points receive more water, while distant colonies get less. This disparity shows that water is not equally accessible to everyone in Chennai.
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?
Ans : The sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai exacerbates the water shortage. Water is taken from nearby villages like Karungizhi Palur and Mamandur to meet the city’s demands, leading to a drastic drop in groundwater levels in these areas. The farmers receive payments for the right to extract water, but this exploitation harms local agricultural needs and reduces available drinking water in the villages. Local people can object to such exploitation, as it threatens their access to water. The government could intervene by regulating groundwater extraction and ensuring that water resources are not exploited for commercial gain, prioritizing local needs.
4. Why are most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas?
Ans : Private hospitals and schools are typically located in major cities due to the concentration of affluent populations who can afford costly services. The primary motive of these institutions is to maximize profit, and cities offer a larger customer base with higher purchasing power. In contrast, towns and rural areas may lack the demand and financial resources to support such private institutions, leading to their absence in these regions.
5. Do you think the distribution of public facilities in our country is adequate and fair? Give an example of your own to explain.
Ans : The distribution of public facilities in India is neither adequate nor fair. While major cities like Delhi have well-developed infrastructure and access to public services like healthcare, sanitation, education, and transport, towns and villages face severe shortages in these areas. For instance, in places like Mathura or Aligarh, people struggle with water shortages, electricity cuts, and poor public transport, which are common in smaller towns compared to larger cities. This shows that public facilities are not distributed equally, and rural areas and poorer localities receive far fewer services than urban centers. Handing such facilities over to private companies would not solve the issue; instead, the government must ensure equitable access to these services for all citizens.
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.
7. Are the above public facilities shared equally by all the people in your area? Elaborate.
Ans : No, the public facilities are not shared equally in my area. For example, water supply is not equally distributed. Slum dwellers often have to share a single water tap, whereas middle-class households have a separate water connection. While middle-class families can afford to buy water from tankers, slum residents cannot. However, other public services, like electricity, roads, and public transport, are shared more equally by all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
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.
Ans : This is an activity that students should do with the guidance of their teacher, as the teacher can provide specific details about the timing and methodology of the Census process in their country.
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.
Ans : The rise of private educational institutions, while offering quality education, has led to a disparity in access to education. These institutions charge high fees, making them accessible only to the affluent sections of society. As a result, children from lower-income families are left with fewer options, especially if government-run schools are not of the same quality. This inequality in access to quality education deepens the divide between the rich and the poor. If government educational institutions are not improved and updated, this will perpetuate the cycle of inequality, denying poorer sections of society the opportunity to access quality education.