Public Facilities Class 8 Notes: CBSE Civics Chapter 7

Introduction:

In today’s world, water shortage is a significant issue. The rich people get access to municipal water regularly, and the water tankers are affordable and accessible to them. Many middle-class people have their own bore wells. Borewell water is not suitable for consumption, so they use water filters. Once a week they get tankers. They don’t have regular access to municipal water. The poor neither have access nor can afford regular and clean water supply.

Water and the People of Chennai

Anna Nagar is a pushy and gorgeous area in Chennai. It is incorporated with a variety of vibrant lawns and is maintained by seamount spraying of water. Tap water is relatively constant for a significant part of the day here. However, there are minimal days where this area encounters an inadequate supply of water. In such circumstances, the residents reach out to the senior officers of the municipal water board. Simultaneously, the municipal water board arranged a water tanker for these Residents.

On the other hand, students will also learn about another area of Chennai,Mylapore. Mylapore struggles with extreme water shortage. The residents here,moreover,receive the municipal water only after two days. Students will learn about both these areas of Chennai, and all the water supply struggles they deal with.

Water as Part of the Fundamental Right to Life

Students will learn about the vitality of water in this section. Water is an essential aspect of every individual’s life. Not only is it crucial for maintaining our health but also to survive. Safe drinking water plays a fundamental role in lowering your risk of developing water-related diseases. About 1600 Indians suffer from death due to water-related diseases like cholera, dysentery, and even diarrhoea. Moreover, nearly a majority of these Indians are children aged below 5. In this section of the chapter, students will learn about how water is a paramount factor for the survival of living creatures.

Additionally, you’ll also learn more about different Examples of Public Facilities and about Article 11, which is about the Right to Life. Under the right to life, Students will know about the right to water and how every individual should have universal access to water. This section covers all the laws for the right to water and how it should be available to every human being.

Public Facilities:

What are the Public Facilities?

Other than water, the public would need healthcare, sanitation, electricity, public transport, schools, and colleges. These are called public facilities. Why is that the establishment of public facilities important?

• A community can share it.

• Example:

1. School - Establishments of government schools can make education accessible for the children in our community. 

2. Electricity - Establishing an electric power supply may facilitate the following: 

• Farmers can use more electricity-powered machines like a motor pump to irrigate their fields.

• Students can get access to education through the internet only if electricity is accessible.

The Government’s Role

The Government’s Role is a very integral factor of this chapter. It manages everything you need to know about the government and its responsibilities of offering public facilities to the residents. The government must ensure that all the public facilities are well distributed and available for every individual. Private companies regulate for profit in the marketplace. However, public facilities often consist of no profits whatsoever. Thus, private companies do not favour undertaking work concerning public facilities. Students will learn more about how the government works towards providing public facilities to the residents.

Why is the Government Responsible?

If privatised, all the private organisations and companies only work for profit, and no company would be interested in investing in the public's sanitation or conducting free campaigns. Although the supply of water, education can be a place of interest for the private companies, which are already established in cities, consequence, they are not affordable for the needy. 

How Does the Government Afford It?

The government plans the yearly budget in the parliament meeting. The taxes collected from the citizens are the income of the government. To supply water, the government has to invest a certain amount of money to extract and transport water. The government charges the citizens a small percentage of their income as tax. Taxes are not liable for poor people. This money is used to enable everyone to get access to a regular and clean water supply.

Is Water Supply Available to All?

• There is a significant shortage of providing public facilities to everyone. 

• Shortage - Municipality satisfies approximately only half the water needs of the area.

• Unequal Access - Area nearer to the water storage points have better access to water than the farther ones. 

• Poverty - The poor are the ones who are the most affected. Whereas the middle class manages by digging bore wells, buying water from tankers, and using bottled water for drinking. 

• Availability of Safe Water - only a few can afford to have access to safe and clean water.

• Taking Water from Farmers - The private companies, to satisfy the increasing water takes water from agricultural lands. Mostly from the villages nearby to metropolitan cities. The farmers are paid every month authorising the company to exploit the water from their land. The problem is when private companies extract water from about 13,000 water tanks draining the water in that area. This doesn't only affect the farmers but the villagers altogether. As a result, Groundwater levels have dropped drastically.

In Search of Alternatives:

• Shortage of water during summers is common among most cities of India. 

• The private companies have taken over the water supply chains as the municipality fails to meet the needs. 

• According to the urban water commission, in cities, 135 litres (about 7 buckets) of water is consumed per person. In slums, the supply should be about 20 litres (one bucket) per person. At an equivalent time, hotels may consume about 1600 litres (about 80 buckets) per day. 

• A shortage of municipal water is usually considered a sign of failure of the government.

• Suggestion - Many suggest that private companies have to take over the water supply task as the municipality is running at a loss. They believe private companies may perform better.

Throughout the Planet Water Supply is Done by the Government. Very Rarely Taken Over by Private.

Example: Porto Alegre, Brazil - The city water department has achieved universal water access.

• The average price of water is low, and the poor are charged at half the basic rate. 

• The profit of the government is completely used for water supplies. 

• The people get to have a say in the upcoming schemes and water projects.

• The government is completely transparent about the steps taken by the water department.

There was a steep rise in the water rates when handed over to private companies. This has made it unaffordable for many. 

Example: In Bolivia, protests and riots broke when private companies were handed over the responsibility to supply water demanding the government to take over again.

Here are Few Practise Questions Along with Answers: 

1. Who has good access to water? 

Ans: The rich who reside in established municipalities get their water needs satisfied by proper government services. Poor people cannot get daily access to water, and some people in villages have to travel to faraway places to get water. 

2. What is "on contract"?

Ans: The private companies transport and distribute water while the government water system department decides the speed for water tankers and then the government permits them. Hence, they are called 'on contract'. 

3. What happened in Bolivia?

Ans: In Bolivia, protests and riots broke when private companies were handed over the responsibility to supply water demanding the government to take over again. As privatisation of water supply happened, the water price rose steeply, making it unaffordable for many. This catalysed the water shortage issue in many cities. Protests and riots broke out, asking the government to take back the water supply service from private hands. 

4. How Porto Alegre, Brazil achieved universal water access? 

Ans: 

• The average price of water is often low, and the poor are charged at half the basic rate. 

• The profit of the government is completely used for water supplies. 

• The people get to have a say in the upcoming schemes and water projects. 

• The government is completely transparent about the steps taken by the water department.

5. Explain how private companies exploit farmer's water. 

Ans: The private companies, in order to satisfy the increasing water needs, take water from agricultural lands. Mostly from the villages nearby to metropolitan cities. The farmers are paid every month authorising the company to exploit the water from their land. The problem is when private companies extract water from about 13,000 water tanks draining the water in that area. This doesn't only affect the farmers but the villagers’ altogether. As a result, Groundwater levels have dropped drastically.

6. What symbolises the failure of the government and why?

Ans: The shortage of municipal water symbolises the failure of the government. As the shortage of municipal water means fewer water supplies to even a few people. This means failure to meet the government's responsibility to provide sufficient and clean water to the citizens.

5 Important Topics of Class 8 Civics Chapter 7 Public Facilities

Importance of Class 8 Civics Public Facilities Notes

• Revision notes help us quickly understand and remember key concepts before exams.

• They save time by focusing on essential information and skipping unnecessary details.

• These notes simplify complex topics, making them easier to understand and use.

• They provide practical examples that show how theoretical knowledge is used in real-life situations.

• Revision notes ensure thorough preparation by covering all important topics in a structured manner.

• They increase confidence by clearly understanding what to expect in exams.

• Accessible formats like PDFs allow for easy studying anytime and anywhere.

Tips for Learning the Civics Class 8 Public Facilities Notes

• Focus on the main topics such as water supply, sanitation, and healthcare services. Make sure you understand the role of the government in providing these facilities.

• Study specific examples provided in the chapter about water supply issues or healthcare services. These real-life cases can make concepts clearer.

• Understand the different government policies and initiatives aimed at improving public facilities. This will help you grasp the government's role better.

• Connect the concepts to real-world situations and current issues regarding public facilities to make the content more relatable.

Conclusion

Vedantu’s Class 8 Civics Public Facilities Notes provide a clear overview of essential services like water supply, sanitation, and healthcare. These notes help you understand the role of the government in ensuring these services are available to everyone and the challenges involved. By reviewing these notes, you can understand key concepts easily and see how public facilities impact daily life. The notes simplify complex ideas and offer a structured way to prepare for exams, making it easier to recall important information and perform well. With Vedantu’s notes, you’re well-equipped to understand and revise the chapter effectively.

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