Public services and facilities
You drink tap water, switch on a light and ride a bus without asking whose they are. They are meant for everyone in town.
Public services and facilities (सार्वजनिक सेवा व सुविधा) are provided for everyone, such as water supply, electricity, health, education and transport.
Rule 1: Examples — Bus and railway are public transport. We also use the postal service, telephone, fire brigade, police, banks, theatres, parks, gardens and swimming pools. These are meant for everyone.
In the figure : In the figure public services are for everyone, so we must use them responsibly.
- Easy : Easy: A park is a public facility.
- Medium : Medium: A fire brigade serves everyone.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name five public services.
Rule 2: System and responsibility — The services, the organizations that provide them and we ourselves are all part of a system (व्यवस्था). Our school is also a part of it. We must use every facility responsibly (जबाबदारीने): not waste water, not damage seats, not litter parks.
- Easy : Easy: Close the tap after use.
- Medium : Medium: Do not scratch bus seats.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why use public facilities responsibly?
Public services are for all. Use them responsibly.
Thinking public property belongs to nobody. It belongs to everyone.
Memory clue: "सर्वांची = माझीही, जपून वापर".
Spot the difference
| Service | Example |
|---|---|
| Transport | Bus, railway |
| Safety | Police, fire brigade |
| Recreation | Park, pool |
Practice questions
- 1What are public services?
- 2Name two public transport facilities.
- 3Who runs the fire brigade?
- 4What is a system here?
- 5Is a school part of it?
- 6How can you use a garden responsibly?
- 7A tap leaks 5 litres each hour. How much is lost in 6 hours?
- 8Why do we pay taxes for public services?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Services provided for everyone.
- 2Bus and railway.
- 3The public system (government).
- 4Services, organizations and ourselves together.
- 5Yes.
- 6Do not pluck flowers or litter.
- 75 × 6 = 30 litres.
- 8Taxes fund the services for all.
Our school and its features
When someone asks "Which school do you go to?" you tell the name, the place and maybe the school colour. A school has its own identity, like a person.
Each school has a unique identity (स्वतःची ओळख) and certain facilities.
Rule 1: Identity of a school — A school poster may show its name, year of establishment, founder, motto, emblem, number of girls and boys, number of classrooms, uniform colour, achievements and awards.
- Easy : Easy: The motto is on the school emblem.
- Medium : Medium: A school with 12 rooms and 480 pupils has 40 pupils per room on average.
- Exam-type : Exam: List four items on a school poster.
Rule 2: Facilities at school — Good facilities include enough classrooms, library, electricity, separate toilets for girls and boys, laboratory, drinking water, study corner, ramp, computer class, playground, medical facility, midday meal, counselling centre, insurance scheme and fence.
In the figure : In the figure a good school has facilities for learning and for care.
- Easy : Easy: A library gives books.
- Medium : Medium: A ramp helps children who cannot climb stairs.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why are separate toilets for girls needed?
School identity: name, motto, emblem, uniform. Facilities for learning and care.
Thinking all schools are the same. Each has its own identity.
Memory clue: "ओळख आणि सुविधा".
Spot the difference
| Facility | Use |
|---|---|
| Library | Reading |
| Playground | Games |
| Ramp | Easy access |
| Medical room | First aid |
Practice questions
- 1What is a school's identity?
- 2Name two facilities in a school.
- 3What does a ramp help with?
- 4What is the midday meal scheme?
- 5Why is drinking water needed?
- 6What is a school emblem?
- 7A school has 9 classrooms with 35 pupils each. How many pupils?
- 8Which facility do you think your school needs most? Give a reason.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Its name, motto, emblem and special features.
- 2Library and playground.
- 3Easy movement for those who cannot use stairs.
- 4Food given to pupils at school at noon.
- 5To keep pupils healthy.
- 6The symbol of the school.
- 79 × 35 = 315.
- 8Own answer, e.g. a library to read more books.
The right to education
A girl in your lane sells flowers in the morning, and a boy tends goats. If they are allowed to attend school, they can learn to read and choose their own future.
The right to education (शिक्षणाचा हक्क) means every child has the right to go to school and learn.
Rule 1: The Right to Education Act — According to the Right to Education Act, every child between 6 and 14 years must go to school and complete primary education. For children with special needs the upper age limit is 18.
In the figure : In the figure every child between 6 and 14 years has the right to go to school.
- Easy : Easy: A child of 8 has the right to school.
- Medium : Medium: A child of 14 is still covered.
- Exam-type : Exam: From 6 to 14 is 14 − 6 = 8 years of schooling.
Rule 2: Equal right — Education is a fundamental right of every child. Boys and girls have an equal right to education. No child may be kept from school because of poverty or being a girl.
- Easy : Easy: Girls too must go to school.
- Medium : Medium: A poor child also has the right.
- Exam-type : Exam: Education is a fundamental right.
Right to education: ages 6 to 14 (18 for special needs); boys and girls equal.
Thinking only boys need school. Girls have an equal right.
Memory clue: "6 ते 14 = शाळा सर्वांना".
Spot the difference
| Group | Age to attend |
|---|---|
| Every child | 6 to 14 years |
| Special needs | 6 to 18 years |
Practice questions
- 1What is the right to education?
- 2Which age group is covered?
- 3What is the age limit for special needs?
- 4Is education a fundamental right?
- 5Do girls have an equal right?
- 6Can poverty stop a child's right?
- 7How many years of school does a child of 6 to 14 get?
- 8A child of 10 sells tea instead of going to school. What should be done?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Every child's right to go to school and learn.
- 26 to 14 years.
- 3Up to 18 years.
- 4Yes.
- 5Yes.
- 6No.
- 714 − 6 = 8 years.
- 8Tell the teacher or authorities so he is enrolled.
Role of the community in a school
When a school needs a new library, a past student donates books, a sportsperson gives a cricket kit and parents help build shelves. A school grows with the help of many people.
The community (समाज) means the people around a school; it helps the school develop.
Rule 1: Who helps a school — Parents, past students, writers, artists, sportspersons, scientists and industrialists help a school grow. Various sections of society help in building classrooms, libraries and laboratories and in getting sports equipment.
In the figure : In the figure many people in the community help a school.
- Easy : Easy: A past student can help his school.
- Medium : Medium: A scientist can give a lab kit.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name five who help a school.
Rule 2: What help is given — Help can be money, books, time, skill or equipment. A writer may read stories to pupils, an artist may paint the walls and an industrialist may fund a laboratory.
- Easy : Easy: A writer reads stories.
- Medium : Medium: An artist paints a wall mural.
- Exam-type : Exam: The community has a role in school development.
Many people help a school: money, time, skill, equipment.
Thinking only the government builds a school. The community helps too.
Memory clue: "शाळा = सर्वांचे सहकार्य".
Spot the difference
| Person | Help |
|---|---|
| Past student | Books, money |
| Sportsperson | Sports equipment |
| Scientist | Lab ideas |
Practice questions
- 1What is the community?
- 2Name two people who help schools.
- 3Give two kinds of help.
- 4How can a sportsperson help?
- 5What can an artist do?
- 6Why does a school need the community?
- 7A past-students group gives 120 books to 4 classes equally. How many each?
- 8What can you do to thank them?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The people around the school.
- 2Parents and past students.
- 3Money and books.
- 4By giving equipment or coaching.
- 5Paint the school walls.
- 6One group cannot supply everything.
- 7120 ÷ 4 = 30.
- 8Write a thank-you note and look after what they gave.
School, community and parents
If your classroom is dirty, you clean it. Likewise, if the village near your school is dirty, the school children can help clean it.
A school also helps its community. The Parent Teacher Association (पालक-शिक्षक संघ) and the Mata Palak Sangh (माता-पालक संघ) link parents and teachers.
Rule 1: Students help the village — In one village the school children became agents of cleanliness. They made posters asking people not to spit in the streets and to dispose of garbage properly, and presented street plays. The school helped the village win the 'Clean Village' award.
In the figure : In the figure students can help their community through posters and street plays.
- Easy : Easy: Children made posters.
- Medium : Medium: Street plays spread the message widely.
- Exam-type : Exam: The village won the Clean Village award.
Rule 2: Parents and the school — All schools have a Parent Teacher Association and a Mata Palak Sangh. They start a dialogue between parents and teachers. Parents can help in activities such as teaching music or conducting a drill. The school respects all parents alike, and we should tell our parents about school happenings.
In the figure : In the figure the Parent Teacher Association brings teachers and parents into dialogue.
- Easy : Easy: Parents meet teachers in the association.
- Medium : Medium: A parent can teach music.
- Exam-type : Exam: We learn from both teachers and parents.
School helps community; PTA links parents and teachers.
Thinking school works alone. Parents and the community are partners.
Memory clue: "शाळा + पालक + समाज = प्रगती".
Spot the difference
| Group | Role |
|---|---|
| Students | Spread cleanliness |
| Teachers | Teach and guide |
| Parents | Help in activities |
Practice questions
- 1How did school children help a village?
- 2What award did the village get?
- 3What is the Parent Teacher Association?
- 4Name one way parents can help.
- 5What is a street play?
- 6Why tell parents about school?
- 7Make a slogan for cleanliness in 6 words.
- 83 groups of 8 pupils each go to clean a lane. How many pupils?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1By posters and street plays for cleanliness.
- 2Clean Village award.
- 3A group linking parents and teachers.
- 4Teaching music.
- 5A short drama played in a public place.
- 6So they know and can help.
- 7Own answer, e.g. "Clean village, happy village, our pride."
- 83 × 8 = 24.
Quick revision
- Public services are meant for everyone and must be used responsibly.
- Every child between 6 and 14 years has the right to education.
- The community and parents help a school, and a school helps the community.