4 Marks Each

Question 14 Marks

Write about government efforts to curb corruption.

Answer

Efforts made by government to curb corruption:

The Government of Gujarat had established 'Anti-Corruption Bureau' in $1963.$
The man function of this bureau is to investigate the corruption charges made against the government officials.
Moreover, the bureau catches corrupt people red-handed and punishes them.
The head-quarter of this bureau is in shaihibaug,ahemdabad.general public facing corruption problems can call on its toll-free number $1800\ 2334\ 4444.$
To stop corruption, the government of India formulated 'Anti-Corruption Act, $1988'.$ Objective of this act is to provide clean public life and to stop misuse of position or power.
It is compulsory for every public servant, high official and politician to provide information regarding their properties before they assume their posts.
If the property of any such person increases more than his appropriate income during his working tenure, it indicates that there is some corruption involved. The government then charges case against such persons and punishes them. Moreover, the government takes such properties in its possession.
Government has issued 'Right to Information -$ 2005'$ and 'Citizens' Charter'. Under these the government employees have to promise to complete administrative work in stipulated time period, by eliminating delay in their own working area and the work under their power and to make the administration transparent and simple.
Recently central government has enacted 'Black Money Act $- 2005$ in which corruption is regarded as crime.
The government has also made changes in $FEMA$ (Foreign Exchange Management Act). 'Money Laundering Act as well as in section $132$ of Customs Act.
Efforts have been made to curb corruption and find black money by appointing Lokpal and Lokayukt in each state.
Gujarat Vigilance Commission, Gandhinagar has undertaken departmental investigation for the corruption and misuse for power by government officials.

Question 24 Marks

Discuss in detail various provisions related to framework for food grain distribution and public, distribution system, under National Food Security Act.

Answer

Provisions related to framework for food grain distribution and public distribution system, under National Food Security Act:

According to the National Food Security Act $(NFSA)$ the needy, middle class poor families of urban and rural areas are provided food grain at subsidized rate.
Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojna $(AAY),$ the Antyodaya families are given $35\ kg$ of grains per month free of cost.
As per this law, beneficiaries can buy wheat at $RS\ 2.00$ per kg. rice at $RS\ 3.00$ per kg and coarse grain at $RS\ 1.00$ per kg in fixed quantity and at fixed time. Good quality grain is provided under Public Distribution System $(PDS)$ on fixed conditions.
At the time of maternity, Central Government would pay $RS\ 6000$ as help to the mother.
Food security allowance would be given to the beneficiary in place of grains.
Every month sugar, iodized salt, kerosene and edible oil (twice a year) are provided at subsidized rates by Gujarat government to Antyodaya and BPL families through ration shops.
State governments would update list of these families and will publicly displayed in Gram Panchayat Gram Sabha, Ward Sabha, e-gram or fair price shops or office of Executive Magistrate and on the website of supply department.
Steps like bio-metric identity, epic card, barcode, ration card or food coupons and taking image with web camera have been started to improve and strengthen public distribution system in order to make distribution system corruption free.
The government has also set-up 'Internal complaint preventive mechanism to resolve the complaints
A Nodal Officer is to be appointed for regulation and control of grain distribution system and for resolving complaints.
Rajya Ann Ayog' is to be set-up in State and a Food Commissioner has to be appointed to assist in resolving the complaints.
Thus, under this Act, approximately $3.62\ crore$ needy citizens of Gujarat are provided grain at concessional rates.
Such type of welfare schemes have been implemented by the state government too.

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Question 34 Marks

Explain the objectives of right to information and explain the process of obtaining information.

Answer

The Right to Information Act was enacted by the Government of India on $15th$ June, $2005.$
Its objectives are as follows:
To ensure transparent, clean and simple administration operations.
To seek co-operation of people to bring about
transparency in administration.
To enable people to seek information/ proper reply about their pending work.
To seek information about various schemes and related aspects.
The process for obtaining information is as follows:
The applicant has to pay a fixed fee of $₹20/-$ in cash/postal order/ pay order/- affixing non-judicial stamp along with the application. The $BPL$ families have been exempted from the payment of fee. The application may be handwritten or typed and signed by the applicant.
This can be also e-mailed to the concerned department. Applicant has to pay charges per page for the copy of document. Applications are received by the Assistant Public Information Officer $(APIO)$ who issues receipt/acknowledgment after putting serial – ID number on the application.
ID number has to be mentioned in the subsequent correspondence. The $APIO$ is required to give reply within $30$ days from the date of receiving application. The $APIO$ may refuse to give information on the specified matters such as those related with national security. In case the $APIO$ does not furnish information within $30$ days, the applicant can approach Public Information Officer $(PIO)$ with $30$ days of rejection.
For the appeal, the applicants are not required to pay any fees. In case the information does not come, the applicant can make an appeal to the Chief Information Officer of the state within 90 days.

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Question 44 Marks

Describe the problems of elderly people and provisions made for their protection and welfare.

Answer

The problems of elderly people are universal. In India the number of elderly people has increased due to the increase in the expectancy of life. This has led to the following social and physical problems:

Children are forgetting their moral responsibilities, values and culture due to the influence of the western culture.

The joint families have been replaced by the nuclear families.

Many elderly people are compelled to live in ‘Old Age Homes’.

As most elderly people have retired from their professions, they have very little or no income. They are helpless people who depend on their children for the fulfillment of their basic needs.

Their physical and emotional needs are neglected. They feel neglected and insecure.

Provisions made for protection and welfare of elderly:

Attention was drawn to the problems of the elderly people. The Government of India has adopted the National Policy for the Senior Citizens. The following provisions have been made for the protection and welfare of the elderly people as well as senior citizens:

The National Policy has provided pension to elderly people.

Higher interest rate is prescribed on their savings with the Post Offices and Banks.

They are given 30 to 50 percent concession on buses, rail and air tickets.

The state governments have started ‘Old Age Homes’ in every district with adequate facilities.

A number of seats in the public transport are reserved for them.

Gardens have been developed in cities wherein they can leisurely sit/walk and participate in Music and Yoga activities with the other elderly people.

Parental Care and Welfare Act, 2007 protects them from domestic violence, exploitation an abuse. Any harassment by children is a cognizable offence.

The responsibility of maintaining parents is imposed on their children/ relatives.

The government honours the senior citizens for their contribution in the making of the nation.

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Question 54 Marks

State the measurse to prevent child labour.

Answer

To abolish child labour the government ha made many provision in the constitution.these are as follows

$(a)$ No child below $14$ years will be employed in a factory or occupation or job. If anybody breaks the law, legal action may be taken against the employer.
$(b)$ A child cannot be exploited in any way during his childhood or teenage. He cannot be devoid of moral security and physical comforts.
$(c)$ It was clarified that within $10$ years of implementing the constitution, the government will have to arrange free education for children up to $14$ years of age. In this regard, the central and state governments have implemented a law in $2009$ so that children belonging to age group of $6$ to $14$ years should get free compulsory education.

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Question 64 Marks

Explain the objectives of right to information and the process of obtaining information.

Answer

$>$ On $15th$ June, $2005$ Central Government had enacted Right to Information Act. It is applied to all the State of India except Jammu and Kashmir.
$>$ On $5th$ October $2005,$ according to the above legislative provision, Gujarat government has implemented the rules regarding Gujarat Right to Information Act, $2005$.

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• How to obtain information :
$> $As per this right, applicant has to pay fixed fee $($presently Rs. $20)$ in cash or postal Order or pay order or non-judicial stamp along with application format, in order to get information.
$>$This application may be self signed, typed or in the form of email to the concerned department.
$>$Person from the family included in the $BPL$ list
doesn't have to pay any fee or charge for copy.
$>$ There is no need to mention why information has been asked for.
$>$ Concerned Assistant Public Information Officer $(APIO)$ gives a copy of receipt of the received application, to the applicant after putting serial number $($ID number$)$ in the application.
$>$After that whatever correspondence has to be made regarding application, ID number has to be mentioned in that.
$>APIO$ will give direction within $30$ days of accepting application for acquiring information. If any copy is demanded by the applicant, then it could be obtained by paying fixed fee or charge decided according to the legislative $AIPO$ may refuse to give information as per legislative,
$>$ If the required information affects the sovereignty of the country or influences national interest and security, or is related to secret issues or leads to contempt of court or is in connection with scientific secrets or promotes crime then.
$>$If the concerned department does not extract the information within $30$ days or refuses to given information then offended applicant may appeal to Public Information Officer $(PIO)$ within $30$ days of rejection.
$>$ If within the stipulated time period, the decision of the first appeal does not come or the applicant is refused to be given required information, the offended applicant may make an appeal to State's Chief Information Officer within $90$ days.
$>$ If any information officer refuses to give information without giving reasonable grounds or hides information with ill intention or intentionally gives improper or incorrect, misleading information or destroys information, the concerned information officer is fined, fixed charge per day for delay delay i in providing information.
$>$ For any query, special information, guidance, related to use of Right to Information Act, first time in the country, helpline number $99240\ 85000$ has been started which helps us all the days in working hours except public holidays.
$>$ In addition to this, civil right letter has been declared.
$>$ The Gujarat government has started common service portal, on which a citizen may apply online, verify documents and make payments for about $28$ services and may inquire the status of application $24 × 7$ hours.

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Question 74 Marks

State the measures made in the constitution to protect child labour.

Answer

The Constitution of India has made many important provisions for the protection and development of children. These provisions are as follows:
$>$ No child below $14$ years will be employed in a factory or for any hazardous work.
$>$ Within $10$ years of the implementation of the Constitution, a provision of giving free and compulsory education to the children up to $14$ years of age was passed.
$>$It should be seen that they are not exploited during their childhood and adolescent period. They should not be deprived of moral protection and physical facilities.

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Question 84 Marks

State the main Provisions for right to free and compulsory education to children.

Answer

$>$Central Government implemented law regarding right to free and compulsory education for children in $2009. $
$>$As per this law Gujarat government proclaimed "Law Regarding Right to free and compulsory Education" on $18th$ February, $2012.$
$>$ In Indian Constitution, primary education has been made free and compulsory for all the children of age group $6-14$ years.
$>$ With the objective of physical, mental and all round development of children, necessary educational opportunities have been created which also meet the demand of qualitative primary education.
$>$ Keeping in mind, education and health of the children, schooling facilities and physical facilities, specific norms have been set under this law and accordingly classroom, laboratory, pure drinking water, electricity, arrangement of midday meal and quality and qualification of teachers and standard of recruitment, provision for grant given to the school have been fixed which are as follows:
$>$ According to this law every child between the age group of $6$ to $14$ should get admission in the school close to his locality.
$>$ Children who do not have birth certificate as age proof can not be refused admission in the school by anybody.
$>$ At the time of admission, the age of the child should be $6$ years and if he doesn't have birth certificate, then hospital records, age related affidavit of parents should be taken as age proof for admission.
$>$ All the students should be given admission without discrimination.
$>$ Any kind of fees like capitation fees, admission fees or any other type of deposit can not be taken.
$>$ At the time of admission, interviews of children or parents should not be taken.
$>$ For the education of children of age $3$ to $5$ years a revolutionary step has been taken for the first time, by taking nursery under the law and making rules for special training of pre-school teachers, their courses, curriculum and evaluation.
$>$ School teachers are not allowed to the private tuitions.
$>$ According to this Act provision has been made for the children of weaker section and backward classes (SCs and STs.) who are interested in studying and their families fall in the category of BPL should be given admission in government recognized private primary schools. As per order it is compulsory that $25\%$ students of standard $1st$ should be of these sections of the society.
$>$ Any child who has not completed his primary education can not be terminated from school until being transferred.
$>$ For the compliance of provisions of this law a scheduled management, tribunal or state council has been provisioned.
$>$ For the breach of this act the Director of the School may be fined or recognization of the school can be terminated.

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Question 94 Marks

Describe the problems of the elderly people and provisions for their protection and welfare.

Answer

$>$ State the main problems of the elderly.
$>$As man grows old, his physical and mental abilities decrease. Again, the contribution of the old people decreases and so their respect in the family decreases.
$>$ Special efforts have to be made in the direction of maintaining their status and dignity in this materialistic world. The elderly people, living in the joint families, were looked after by other members in earlier days. But now they are facing many problems. "
$>$The old people suffer from loneliness and helplessness. It is a sad story that the elderly people have to pass their days in a helpless state instead of getting more affection and warmth from the family members.
$>$ The insecurity of the weak elders who live alon is increasing. This problem becomes graver in bi cities.
$>$ In the rural areas, people are engaged in the traditiona occupations and they do not have any sustainabl economic planning or pension scheme for the ol age. So when they retire from work, their life is ful of problems.
The measures to solve the problems of the elderly are: The old people living alone should give a detailed information about themselves to the nearest police station and should ask for help, when needed. They should also keep in touch with others and try to be helpful to one another in time of need. The elderly people of today contributed fully for the development of the society in the prime of their youth. It is really a sad thing if the same persons have to lead the life of agony, when they grow old and weak.

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Question 104 Marks

Discuss the process of obtaining information under $RTI.$

Answer

The Right to Information Act i.e. $RTI$ gives right to seek answers for questions such as the pending work, implementation of schemes, status of public works, etc. from the government officials.
To do so, the person seeking information needs to write an application and pay a fixed fee $($presently RS $20)$ in cash, postal order, pay order or non-judicial stamp.
The application may be either hand-written or typed and signed or in the form of e-mail to the concerned department.
People belonging to $BPL$ are exempted from paying the fixed fee as well as fee for copies of information.
The beauty of $RTI$ is that there is no need to mention why the applicant is seeking the information under $RTI.$
Once the applicant files the application, the concerned Assistant Public Information Officer $(APIO$ puts a serial $ID$ number on the application, acknowledges the receipt of application and gives one copy of the applicant.
The ID number becomes the reference number for all the correspondence to be made regarding application.
$APIO$ will clear the application within $30$ days of accepting it.
If the information sought could affect the sovereignty of the country or national interest and security or is related to secret issues or leads to contempt of court or is in connection with scientific secrets or promotes crime then the $APIO$ under the legislative of $RTI$ has the right to refuse to provide that information to the applicant.

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Question 114 Marks

Discuss the present situation of elderly and helpless people in India.

Answer

In many families when people become old, their children and citizens in general consider them burden. So, they neglect them, do not take good care of them and at times even leave them at old age homes.
Such elderly people become helpless. It is the duty to take care of such people, assure them security and see to it they do not suffer.
Today, the life expectancy of a person has increased by $4.3$ years due to improvement in health related services, modern medical facilities and quick treatment.
The average life expectancy in India was about $63.5$ years between the years $2001$ and $2005.$ This increased to $67.5$ years in $2015.$
In India, there was an addition of about $2.75$ crore elderly people in the decade of $2001-2011.$
As per an estimate, there were $5.11$ crore elderly males and $5.28$ elderly females in $2011$ in India.
Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of elderly people in India.
In Gujarat, there are about $35$ lakh elderly people.
Rise in population of elderly people and increase in their average life span have led to several social and physical problems.
The western culture influences us to move away from joint families and live in nuclear family. As a result, the youths are not ready to accept the responsibility of their parents. The youth and children are ignoring their ethical responsibilities towards elderly people, values and culture.
All these reasons have forced the elderly people to live in 'Old Age Homes'
In order to attract attention of people towards problems of elderly people, UN had announced year $1999$ as the 'International Elderly Year'
The UN also declared to celebrate $1^{st}$ October as 'World Elderly People Day' at the international level.

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Social Science 4 Marks Each

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