Chapter 7: Public Facilities NCERT Solutions For Class 8

NCERT Solutions For Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7: Public Facilities. This article includes free NCERT Solutions For Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7: Public Facilities to help students of Class 8 learn the solutions and ace their exams.

It has been developed by the subject matter experts at GFG, according to the latest CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, and guidelines to help the students of Class 8 create a solid conceptual base for Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7: Public Facilities.

The solutions to all the exercises in Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7: Public Facilities of your NCERT textbook have been collectively covered in NCERT Solutions Class 8 Political Science.

NCERT Solutions Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7: Public Facilities

Exercise Page No. 98

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

Answer:

The reasons for so few cases of private water supply in the world are:

1. Government Responsibility: Many governments consider access to clean water a basic human right and take responsibility for providing it to their citizens. They invest in public water supply systems to ensure equitable access and quality standards.
2. Cost and Affordability: Maintaining a private water supply system can be expensive. Many individuals or communities may not have the financial resources to invest in such infrastructure, especially in economically disadvantaged areas.
3. Infrastructure Challenges: Building and managing water supply infrastructure requires technical expertise and resources. Private entities may face challenges in acquiring land, constructing pipelines, and ensuring the sustainability of water sources.
4. Equity and Access: Private water supply systems may prioritize profitability over equitable access to water, leading to concerns about affordability and accessibility for marginalized or low-income communities.

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

Answer:

No, water in Chennai is not available and affordable to all. Water availability in Chennai is inconsistent due to reliance on seasonal rainfall and groundwater sources. The city’s municipal supply only meets about half of the city’s water needs. Infrastructure issues lead to unequal access across neighborhoods, with some areas experiencing frequent shortages.

The availability of water is also proportionate to a person’s income level. For example, senior government officials in Anna Nagar can get an entire water tanker for themselves, but most areas in Mylapore only get water once every two days. In Madipakkam, people buy bottled water for drinking. In slums, water supply is barely available for an hour.

Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts to improve infrastructure, governance, and affordability to ensure equitable access to clean water for all residents of 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 ground water? Can the government do anything in this regard?

Answer:

The sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai has negatively affected local people by reducing the water supply and causing water levels to drop. The water is taken from nearby towns and villages, and used for drinking water and agriculture. This has made water that was once free or affordable too expensive for the poor to buy.

Local people can object to this exploitation because water is an essential amenity that should be provided free or at basic costs to all. The government can help the people of the city by providing them adequate water, which can help shut down the private companies’ unfair means of earning profits from supplying water. 

The government can also order for arrest of water dealers and greedy farmers, and frame a suitable charge against them. This will act as a deterrent against such offense. The government can also enact regulations and policies to manage and protect groundwater resources, such as implementing water usage limits.

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

Answer:

Most of the private hospitals and private schools located in major cities and not in towns or rural areas because of the following factors:

• Market Demand: Major cities have larger populations with higher demand for quality healthcare and education services.
• Infrastructure: Urban areas offer better infrastructure, facilities, and resources essential for operating private hospitals and schools.
• Profitability: Major cities provide opportunities for higher revenues and profitability due to affluent client base and competitive advantages.
• Access: Residents of major cities have better access to private services compared to those in towns or rural areas, increasing disparities.
• Regulatory Environment: Urban areas may have more favorable regulatory conditions or incentives for private investment compared to rural areas.
• Concentration: The concentration of private hospitals and schools in major cities reflects a combination of market demand, infrastructure, profitability, access, and regulatory factors.

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:

No, the distribution of public facilities in India is neither adequate nor fair due to various factors such as population density, economic disparities, and government priorities. For example,

• People in Delhi have access to public facilities like healthcare, water, electricity, schools, colleges, and public transport, but people in places like Mathura or Aligarh do not. 
• Urban areas consume more electricity than villages or townships, which can lead to power cuts in villages and towns, even in summer.
• In Chennai, the water supply is not adequate or regular, and people who live in slums have to wait long for public water tankers.

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
Roads
Public Transport

Answer:

	Is it available?	How can it be improved?
Water	Irregular and insufficient supply, especially in summers.	Improve infrastructure to ensure reliable and consistent supply
Electricity	Regular power outages, especially during peak hours. Voltage fluctuations damaging appliances.	Upgrade electrical grid infrastructure to reduce outages and voltage fluctuations. Invest in renewable energy sources to supplement traditional power generation.
Roads	Potholes, uneven surfaces, congestion, lack of proper signage and lighting	Repair and maintenance of existing roads to fix potholes and improve surface quality. Expansion of road networks to ease congestion. Installation of proper signage and lighting for safety.
Public Transport	Limited coverage, overcrowded buses and trains, unreliable schedules	Expand public transportation network to cover more areas. Increase frequency and capacity of buses and trains. Implement real-time tracking and scheduling systems.

7. Are the above public facilities shared equally by all the people in your area? Elaborate.

Answer:

No, public facilities are not shared equally by all people in an area due to various factors such as socio-economic status, geographical location, and government priorities.

1. Socio-economic Disparities: Wealthier communities often have better access to public facilities compared to poorer areas. For example, in slum areas, people may only have one water tap to meet all their water needs, while in middle-class areas, each house may have its own water connection.
2. Geographical Disparities: Rural and remote areas face greater challenges in accessing facilities compared to urban centers due to geographical constraints.
3. Government Priorities: Certain regions or communities may receive preferential treatment in infrastructure development based on government policies and priorities. In addition, the municipal supply of public facilities only meets about half of the needs of the people in an area, while the other half is met through private means.
4. Population Density: Densely populated areas may experience strain on public facilities due to higher demand, leading to overcrowding and reduced service quality.

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:

The Census is conducted by the government every 10 years to count the country’s population and collect information about people, such as their age, work, and schooling. The Census is conducted in two stages:

• House listing: Trained enumerators visit households and record demographic, social, and economic data through surveys or digital means.
• Data enumeration: Thousands of paid volunteers go from door to door to collect data. The data is then tabulated and calculated to give the final report.

The Census provides detailed information that can be used to compare the socio-economic status of different people, classes, communities, regions, and even of genders. It also helps to get a clear picture of the development of urban and rural areas, and helps the local, state, and central government plan for future basic facilities, for social and economic justice, and more. The last Census was done in 2011.

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 have been coming up in India, and the decline of government educational institutions has raised concerns about affordability, quality, and accessibility. The impact of this could be:

1. Social Inequality: Privatization can deepen social stratification as wealthier families access better education, while lower-income families struggle with affordability.
2. Political Influence: Private institutions may wield significant political power through lobbying, potentially shaping education policies to their advantage.
3. Quality Disparities: While private institutions may offer better facilities, their profit-driven approach could compromise the overall quality of education and create disparities with government-run institutions.
4. Economic Effects: While private education can stimulate economic growth, it may also contribute to the commercialization of education, hindering social mobility.

The increasing dominance of private educational institutions at the expense of government-run institutions can have far-reaching implications for society, politics, and the economy. While privatization may offer certain benefits such as innovation and economic growth, it also raises concerns about social inequality, democratic values, and the equitable access to quality education for all citizens. Therefore, it is essential for policymakers to strike a balance between private and public provision of education to ensure that education remains accessible, affordable, and of high quality for everyone.

Important Topics Discussed in the Chapter

Important topics discussed in the chapter are:

• What are the Public Facilities?
• What is the Importance of Public Facilities?
• In Search of Alternatives of Public Facilities
• What is the Role of Government in Public Facilities?
• Why are public facilities needed for the development of a country 

FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7: Public Facilities

What are NCERT Class 8 Solutions? 

NCERT Class 8 Solutions are the answers and explanations provided for the questions and exercise given in the NCERT Class 8 textbooks for various subjects

What are the important topics discussed in the chapter?

Important topics discussed in the chapter are:

• What are the Public Facilities?
• What is the Importance of Public Facilities?
• In Search of Alternatives of Public Facilities
• What is the Role of Government in Public Facilities?
• Why are public facilities needed for the development of a country 

How do NCERT Solutions help in understanding Chapter 7 concepts?

NCERT Solutions provide comprehensive explanations, examples, and exercises to help students grasp the concepts of political science introduced in Chapter 7 effectively.

Where can I find the correct NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7 on the online platform?

The NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Political Science Chapter 7 can be found by the students on the GeeksforGeeks website. The NCERT Solutions are one of the best study materials which are available for students for free and students can rely on them for examination purposes.

Are NCERT Class 8 solutions enough for exam preparation? 

Yes, NCERT Class 8 solutions are an essential resource for exam preparation, but students should also refer to other materials and practice papers for better preparation.

Are NCERT Class 8 Solutions available for all subjects? 

NCERT Class 8 Solutions are available for all subjects, including Mathematics, Science, social science, English, Hindi, and more.