10th Standard, Social Science, Economics, CHAPTER – 30
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
EXERCISES
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. The true development of India is the development of its villages’. This was said by Mahatma Gandhi.
2. After the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, three levels of panchayat institutions have came into existence.
3. Panchayat institutions operate under democracy principles.
4. ‘Women Self-Help Groups’have been brought into existence in order to bring together poor rural women and make them financially independent.
II. Answer in one sentence each:
5. Explain the meaning of ‘Rural Development’.
Answer: The phrase ‘Rural Development’ has a broad meaning. In addition to development of agriculture and agriculture-related activities, it encompasses extended development of housing, education, health, hygiene, transport, communication and other essential social and economic amenities, creation of employment opportunities, social welfare etc. To put it briefly, ‘Rural Development is an improvement of the social and economic status of the rural people by proper utilization of the locally available natural and human resources’.
6. What is meant by ‘Decentralisation of Power’?
Answer: Providing the administrative power, and the responsibility of developing the village to its own people is called administrative decentralization. Through decentralization, self-reliant, self-sufficient and prosperous villages can be developed. Decentralization puts a stop to all kinds of exploitation, upholds human independence and dignity, and nurtures humane values like compassion and co-operation.
7. Name the three levels of Panchayat Raj institutions.
Answer: The three levels of Panchayat Raj institutions are,
1 . Grama Panchayat,
2. Taluk Panchayat and
3. Zilla Panchayat.
8. Mention any two housing programmes.
Answer: ‘Ambedkar-Valmiki Housing Programme’, ‘Ashraya Yojana’, are the two housing programmes.
9. Which work of women is not considered labour?
Answer: The chores that women perform at home are not considered labour and so are not paid any wages.
III. Answer the following questions in five to six sentences each:
10. How is the economic situation in the rural areas of India?
Answer: Poverty has increased among the rural people who depend primarily on agriculture. One third of them live below subsistence level. Under the onslaught of modernization, rural cottage industries are vanishing unable to withstand the competition. Though most of the people work in the primary sector, the contribution from this sector to the national income is very less, and is reducing year by year. Due to this, the gap between urban and rural areas is increasing gradually. The majority of the population lives in the villages, and is plagued by problems of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, ill-health, lack of basic amenities etc. A deplorable lack of basic amenities can be noticed in rural areas.
11. Explain briefly the significance of rural development.
Answer: The problems of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, ill-health, lack of basic amenities etc. should be tackled through rural development, and rural India should be empowered. Various basic facilities like education, training, health, hygiene etc. should be provided to the rural people. In addition to agriculture, cattle-rearing, fishery, silk industry, poultry and other agriculture-related activities should be promoted, through which agriculture can become a profitable and attractive occupation.
The rural people should be provided with essential facilities like electricity, irrigation, transport, communication, market-yards etc., and their productivity should be augmented. As a result of this, not only will the villagers get more employment opportunities, but their income will also increase. Small-scale and cottage industries can be improved, thereby strengthening the rural economy. The facilities and opportunities that are available to people in urban areas should be available to people in rural areas too. The villagers should be able to participate in the process of development. The benefits of development should be available equally to them too. This has to be achieved through rural development.
12. Explain Gandhiji’s concept of ‘grama swarajya’ in the light of decentralization.
Answer: Providing the administrative power, and the responsibility of developing the village to its own people is called administrative decentralization. Through decentralization, self-reliant, self-sufficient and prosperous villages can be developed. This process was called ‘Grama Swarajya’ by Mahatma Gandhi. Decentralization puts a stop to all kinds of exploitation, upholds human independence and dignity, and nurtures humane values like compassion and co-operation. To enable decentralization, the Panchayat Raj system has been brought into practice. Due to this, the Panchayat institutions got Constitutional status. The three-tier system of panchayats came into existence. They were Grama Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat. Panchayat institutions operate according to principles of democracy.
13. What is the role of panchayat raj institutions in rural development?
Answer: Panchayat Raj institutions play a major role in enabling the rural people to participate in rural development. They can provide the rural community with basic facilities of roads, drains, drinking water, street lights, toilets, school and hospital buildings, market-yards etc. Through encouragement of education, technical and vocational training, and expansion of health and hygiene facilities, panchayat institutions have striven to develop human resources too. More employment opportunities can be provided to the people through agriculture, cattle-rearing, poultry, fishery, social forestry etc. Rural and cottage industries can be improved. Establishment of food processing units can be encouraged. Through the Panchayats, seminars, conferences and training programmes can be organized for all the above activities. Various employment and alleviation of poverty programme, housing programmes can be implemented through panchayat raj institutions. By identifying the old people, the disabled, widows, mentally retarded people etc., it can be ensured that all the facilities. All the self-help groups of women can be brought together. Thus, panchayat raj institutions play a significant role in the over-all development of rural areas.
IV. Activities:
1. Visit the nearest gram panchayat and list the work being done by it towards rural development.
2. Visit the nearest women’s self-help group. Learn about their role in making women self-dependent, and discuss with classmates in the class.
