Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance – Case-based Questions with Answers
Social Science — Theme D: Governance and Democracy
Chapter 10 — Grassroots Democracy (Part 1): Governance — Local level governance & people's participation
Case-Based Questions — How to use
Each case describes a short scenario followed by questions and a model answer. Use these for class discussions, practice tests and to prepare for application-style CBSE questions.
1. Case: Villagers complain that their lane remains unlit at night. The panchayat says funds are limited. Q: How can villagers use the Gram Sabha to address this?
Answer:
Steps to take
- Raise the issue in a Gram Sabha and request it be added to the agenda.
- Ask the panchayat to present budget options or re-prioritise funds in the next meeting.
- Volunteer local labour or small contributions if acceptable; monitor implementation after approval.
2. Case: A new school building is proposed but some parents fear it will be built far away. Q: What participatory step should be taken before approval?
Answer:
Recommended action
- Hold a public consultation or Gram Sabha to discuss the proposed location and alternatives.
- Collect views from mothers, teachers and students; include accessibility concerns in planning.
3. Case: An NGO offers to run a health camp but the panchayat is unsure about costs. Q: How can the community decide?
Answer:
Decision process
- Panchayat announces details and budget in Gram Sabha and invites questions from residents.
- If approved, form a small committee to coordinate logistics and monitor the camp.
4. Case: A group of women want a separate meeting time because they cannot attend day meetings. Q: What inclusive step should the panchayat take?
Answer:
Inclusion measures
- Schedule some Gram Sabha sessions at times convenient for women (evening or after work).
- Provide childcare or women-only forums and encourage women representatives to speak.
5. Case: After a road repair, villagers notice low-quality work. Q: How should citizens respond to ensure accountability?
Answer:
Accountability steps
- Raise the problem in the next Gram Sabha and demand inspection reports.
- Request the panchayat to produce expenditure receipts and take corrective action or rework.
6. Case: Youth form a club to plant trees but need municipal permission for seedlings. Q: How can they proceed?
Answer:
Practical steps
- Approach the municipal office with a written proposal and estimated cost; ask for support or seedlings.
- Use social media and local meetings to gather volunteers and report progress publicly.
7. Case: A minority language group struggles to understand notices. Q: How can the local body improve communication?
Answer:
Communication improvements
- Publish notices in multiple local languages and use oral announcements in community centres.
- Provide translators at meetings or simple summaries for non-literate residents.
8. Case: A panchayat plans to use funds for a festival instead of drainage repair. Q: What can citizens do?
Answer:
Civic response
- Question the priority in Gram Sabha and ask the panchayat to justify the decision with a budget explanation.
- Propose alternative funding sources for the festival or suggest delaying non-urgent spending.
9. Case: An elderly man cannot reach meetings due to distance. Q: How can the community ensure his voice is heard?
Answer:
Inclusion tactics
- Allow family or neighbours to present his views in the meeting, or collect written feedback.
- Arrange mobile Gram Sabha sessions rotating through different hamlets to increase access.
10. Case: A village wants to monitor school attendance but lacks data. Q: What low-cost method can the community use?
Answer:
Simple monitoring
- Volunteer parents can record daily attendance on a shared register and report trends in monthly meetings.
- Use this data to ask the school or panchayat for targeted support where absenteeism is high.
11. Case: A block official says funds are delayed from the state. Q: How can the panchayat keep projects moving?
Answer:
Adaptive strategies
- Panchayat can prioritise small, urgent repairs using local contributions or labour while waiting for funds.
- Keep the community informed about delays and timelines to maintain trust.
12. Case: Two groups dispute the location for a community well. Q: How should the panchayat resolve this?
Answer:
Conflict resolution
- Hold a public meeting, list reasons from both sides and examine technical criteria like accessibility and groundwater.
- If needed, conduct a site visit with neutral experts and make a decision based on facts and consensus where possible.
13. Case: A local leader is accused of favouring relatives for work contracts. Q: What transparency step should be taken?
Answer:
Transparency measures
- Demand publication of tender procedures, selection criteria and contractor details in the Gram Sabha or notice board.
- Set up a small oversight committee including respected residents to review the process.
14. Case: After floods, families need temporary shelters. Q: How can local governance respond effectively?
Answer:
Response plan
- Use Gram Sabha to quickly identify the most affected and arrange community buildings or schools as temporary shelters.
- Coordinate with district officials for relief materials and keep records to ensure aid reaches the right families.
15. Case: Residents want to propose a local bylaw for waste segregation. Q: What is the correct route to adopt it?
Answer:
Adoption steps
- Prepare a draft bylaw and present it at a Gram Sabha to collect feedback and suggestions.
- Once approved locally, the panchayat or municipality passes the bylaw formally and begins awareness campaigns for compliance.
16. Case: A remote hamlet lacks ration shop access. Q: How can citizens use local governance to improve access?
Answer:
Action plan
- Raise the issue in Gram Sabha and request temporary distribution arrangements or propose a new ration depot location.
- Document needs and approach higher officials with community signatures to support the request.
17. Case: A proposal for a playground receives mixed views. Q: How can the panchayat ensure a fair decision?
Answer:
Fair decision-making
- Invite suggestions on location, safety and maintenance costs; prepare cost-benefit estimates for each option.
- Use voting in Gram Sabha or seek consensus after addressing concerns to reach a fair decision.
18. Case: People want regular updates about panchayat spending. Q: What low-cost transparency tool can be used?
Answer:
Practical tool
- Maintain a public expenditure register placed on the notice board summarising monthly income and spending.
- Share short verbal updates at every Gram Sabha and keep simple written summaries in local language for those who cannot read formal reports.
19. Case: The village wants youth to take leadership roles. Q: Suggest realistic ways to involve them in governance.
Answer:
Involvement ideas
- Create youth committees for cleanliness, sports and digital outreach and include a youth member in local planning committees.
- Offer short training sessions in leadership and project management with support from NGOs or local schools.
20. Case: After a sanitation drive, bins are not emptied regularly. Q: How should the community and panchayat follow up?
Answer:
Follow-up steps
- Assign a monitoring schedule and responsible persons for bin collection; publish the timetable publicly.
- If contractors are involved, check contract terms and performance; raise issues in Gram Sabha and demand corrective action or penalties for non-performance.
Note: These case-based questions follow NCERT Class 6 Chapter 10 (Grassroots Democracy — Part 1). Use them for classroom discussion, group work, and exam preparation. Answers are concise, exam-oriented and suited for CBSE standards.