Issues in civic life
Water comes to your lane only three days a week, garbage lies near the corner and there is no safe place to cycle. Everyone complains, but nothing changes until someone starts.
Issues in civic life (नागरी जीवनातील समस्या) are problems faced by people in cities and villages.
Rule 1: What civic issues are — Problems like water supply only thrice a week, garbage spilling over, or no bicycle track cause inconvenience and can throw life into disorder. They are called problems or issues in civic life.
In the figure : In the figure a problem ignored becomes worse; shared effort solves it.
- Easy : Easy: Garbage on the road is a civic issue.
- Medium : Medium: Water only 3 days in 7 is a shortage of 4 days.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name three civic issues.
Rule 2: Co-operation — If we turn a blind eye, problems get worse, so solve them in time. First identify the issue. One person alone cannot solve it; it is solved through everyone's efforts and co-operation (प्रयत्न व सहकार्य).
- Easy : Easy: Tell elders about the problem.
- Medium : Medium: 20 families together can fix what 1 family cannot.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why not ignore a problem?
Identify the problem early; solve it by co-operation.
Thinking someone else will solve it. Everyone has a responsibility.
Memory clue: "ओळखा, एकत्र या, सोडवा".
Spot the difference
| Issue | Possible step |
|---|---|
| Garbage | Bins and cleaning drives |
| Water shortage | Save and recharge |
| No cycle track | Ask the local body |
Practice questions
- 1What is a civic issue?
- 2Give two examples.
- 3What happens to ignored problems?
- 4What is the first step?
- 5Can one person solve them alone?
- 6What solves them?
- 74 helpers can clean 20 m of lane per hour each. How much in all in an hour?
- 8Name a civic issue in your school area and one step to fix it.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A problem faced by people in a city or village.
- 2Garbage and water shortage.
- 3They get worse.
- 4Identify the issue.
- 5Usually not.
- 6Everyone's efforts and co-operation.
- 74 × 20 = 80 m.
- 8Own answer, e.g. garbage; make a cleaning team.
Solving disputes
Two neighbours fight over a boundary wall for years. Both lose peace and money. A talk with a village elder ends it in an hour.
A dispute (वाद) is a quarrel between people over an issue; constant disputes break unity.
Rule 1: Solving disputes — Constant disputes cause loss of unity and block a village's progress. Small disputes can be solved locally by talking to the people involved; otherwise they go to the proper bodies or courts.
In the figure : In the figure villages that settle their own disputes peacefully get a peace award.
- Easy : Easy: Talking can end a small dispute.
- Medium : Medium: Serious disputes go to courts.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why do disputes harm a village?
Rule 2: Dispute-Free Village Mission — Since 2007 the 'Mahatma Gandhi Dispute-Free Village Mission' (महात्मा गांधी तंटामुक्त गाव मोहीम) runs in our State so that villages solve disputes through peaceful discussion, which increases harmony. Such villages get a peace award. In cities, Mohalla committees (मोहल्ला समित्या) help to solve disputes.
- Easy : Easy: The mission started in 2007.
- Medium : Medium: From 2007 to 2026 is 19 years.
- Exam-type : Exam: Mohalla committees work in cities.
Disputes: talk first; Dispute-Free Village Mission (2007); Mohalla committees in cities.
Thinking only courts can end disputes. Talking can do it for small ones.
Memory clue: "आधी चर्चा, मग न्यायालय".
Spot the difference
| Place | Body |
|---|---|
| Village | Dispute-Free Village Mission |
| City | Mohalla committee |
| Serious case | Court |
Practice questions
- 1What is a dispute?
- 2How can small disputes be solved?
- 3Where do serious disputes go?
- 4When did the Dispute-Free Village Mission start?
- 5What do peaceful villages get?
- 6Who helps in cities?
- 7Why does discussion beat fighting?
- 8Two children quarrel over a ball. Give a peaceful solution.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A quarrel over an issue.
- 2By talking to the people involved.
- 3To proper bodies or courts.
- 42007.
- 5A peace award.
- 6Mohalla committees.
- 7It saves money, time and relations.
- 8Take turns, 5 overs each.
Problem solving in Hiware Bazaar and Khudawadi
When a rain-fed field has no water, the farmer prays for rain. But some villages decided to stop praying and start working together. They changed their fate.
Hiware Bazaar and Khudawadi solved their own problems through the villagers' participation.
Rule 1: Hiware Bazaar — In Hiware Bazaar (Ahmadnagar district) water shortage was a big problem, solved with the villagers' help and participation. The problem of animal feed was also solved, and the village now has lush green surroundings.
In the figure : In the figure Hiware Bazaar solved its water problem with everyone's help.
- Easy : Easy: Hiware Bazaar is in Ahmadnagar district.
- Medium : Medium: Water solved, feed solved, village green.
- Exam-type : Exam: Participation solved the water problem.
Rule 2: Khudawadi and shramdaan — In Khudawadi (Osmanabad district) the villagers cleaned the village through shramdaan (श्रमदान, voluntary labour). They first handled waste water, used garbage to make manure by vermiculture, and built a toilet in each house.
In the figure : In the figure Khudawadi cleaned itself through voluntary labour (shramdaan).
- Easy : Easy: Shramdaan is work given freely.
- Medium : Medium: 100 families × 1 toilet each = 100 toilets.
- Exam-type : Exam: Garbage became manure by vermiculture.
Hiware Bazaar: water. Khudawadi: cleanliness by shramdaan.
Thinking the government alone changed these villages. The villagers' work did it.
Memory clue: "हिवरे = पाणी, खुदा = स्वच्छता".
Spot the difference
| Village | Problem solved |
|---|---|
| Hiware Bazaar | Water and fodder |
| Khudawadi | Cleanliness |
Practice questions
- 1Where is Hiware Bazaar?
- 2What problem did it solve?
- 3What else did it solve?
- 4Where is Khudawadi?
- 5What is shramdaan?
- 6What was made from garbage?
- 7What did each house get?
- 8If 40 villagers each give 3 hours of shramdaan, how many hours in all?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Ahmadnagar district.
- 2Water shortage.
- 3Animal feed.
- 4Osmanabad district.
- 5Voluntary contribution of labour.
- 6Manure by vermiculture.
- 7A toilet.
- 840 × 3 = 120 hours.
Sant Gadgebaba and Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj
A saint who sweeps the street himself and then sings about cleanliness teaches more than a thousand speeches. People follow what they see.
Sant Gadgebaba and Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj taught cleanliness and self-reliance through kirtans and writing.
Rule 1: Sant Gadgebaba — Sant Gadgebaba used kirtans to stress the importance of a clean village. He said we cannot progress without cleanliness, education and self-reliance (स्वच्छता, शिक्षण, स्वावलंबन) and showed people how to clean a village through his own actions.
In the figure : In the figure Sant Gadgebaba taught cleanliness through kirtans and his own actions.
- Easy : Easy: He swept streets himself.
- Medium : Medium: Three keys: cleanliness, education, self-reliance.
- Exam-type : Exam: He used kirtans to teach.
Rule 2: Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj — Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj explained the importance of cleanliness through his 'Gram Geeta' (ग्रामगीता).
- Easy : Easy: Gram Geeta is a book on village life.
- Medium : Medium: One saint used kirtans, the other a book.
- Exam-type : Exam: Both stressed cleanliness.
Gadgebaba: kirtans, clean village. Tukdoji: Gram Geeta.
Mixing the two saints. Gadgebaba kirtans; Tukdoji Gram Geeta.
Memory clue: "गाडगे = झाडू, तुकडोजी = ग्रामगीता".
Spot the difference
| Saint | Method |
|---|---|
| Gadgebaba | Kirtans, own actions |
| Tukdoji Maharaj | Gram Geeta |
Practice questions
- 1Who used kirtans for cleanliness?
- 2What three things did he stress?
- 3How did he teach?
- 4Which book did Tukdoji Maharaj write?
- 5What is self-reliance?
- 6Why did he clean streets himself?
- 7A class sweeps 5 rooms; each takes 10 minutes. Total time?
- 8What can you do daily to follow Gadgebaba?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Sant Gadgebaba.
- 2Cleanliness, education, self-reliance.
- 3By his own actions too.
- 4Gram Geeta.
- 5Depending on oneself.
- 6To set an example.
- 75 × 10 = 50 minutes.
- 8Keep my surroundings clean and do my work myself.
Peace as a social value
A quiet home, a calm class and a friendly lane all feel safe. Peace is the quiet in which everything else grows.
Peace (शांतता) is a social value (सामाजिक मूल्य): it helps the family, school and society to progress.
Rule 1: Conditions for peace — For a peaceful society, the basic needs of all sections must be met, everyone must get security, exploitation must stop, inequality must decrease and everyone must have the right to take part in public life. By learning the value of peace and using peaceful methods we can create peace in family, school and community.
In the figure : In the figure these conditions help a society stay peaceful.
- Easy : Easy: Safety is needed for peace.
- Medium : Medium: Equal chances reduce quarrels.
- Exam-type : Exam: List four conditions of peace.
Rule 2: International Peace Day — International Peace Day (आंतरराष्ट्रीय शांतता दिन) is on 21 September, designated by the UN. At the UN headquarters in New York a bell made from coins given by people of about 60 nations is rung at 10 in the morning, followed by a few moments of silence. If there is peace in family, school and society, everyone benefits and progress is possible in business, industry, education, art, science and technology.
In the figure : In the figure International Peace Day is observed on 21 September.
- Easy : Easy: Peace Day is on 21 September.
- Medium : Medium: The bell rings at 10 am.
- Exam-type : Exam: Peace helps business, art and science.
Peace needs security, equality, no exploitation. Peace Day: 21 September.
Thinking peace means only no war. It also needs fairness.
Memory clue: "सुरक्षा + समानता = शांतता".
Spot the difference
| Condition | Why |
|---|---|
| Basic needs met | Fewer quarrels |
| Security | Feel safe |
| Less inequality | Fairness |
Practice questions
- 1What is peace?
- 2Is peace a social value?
- 3Name two conditions of peace.
- 4When is International Peace Day?
- 5Who designated it?
- 6What is rung at the UN headquarters?
- 7How can you create peace in class?
- 8From 21 September to 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti) how many days?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A calm, safe state without quarrels.
- 2Yes.
- 3Security and equality.
- 421 September.
- 5The UN.
- 6A bell made from coins.
- 7Talk politely and share things.
- 89 days left in September + 2 = 11 days.
Quick revision
- Everyone has a responsibility to solve civic problems; co-operation solves them.
- Dialogue and discussion can solve disputes peacefully.
- Hiware Bazaar (water) and Khudawadi (shramdaan) are examples.