Class 6 Civics Chapter 7: Urban Administration Explained

Chapter 7: Urban Administration - Social Science Civics (Class 6)

Chapter Summary

• What is Urban Administration? Cities are much larger than villages and have to deal with complex issues. They require a specific form of administration to manage services like water, electricity, sanitation, roads, and public health.
• Municipal Corporation (Nagar Nigam) / Municipal Council (Nagar Palika): Large cities are administered by a Municipal Corporation, while smaller towns have a Municipal Council or Nagar Palika. These are responsible for providing essential services to urban dwellers.
• Wards and Ward Councillors: A city is divided into several 'Wards'. People living in each ward elect a representative called a 'Ward Councillor' (also known as a 'Parshad').
• Role of Ward Councillors:
  • The Ward Councillors listen to the problems of their specific ward (e.g., lack of streetlights, garbage not being cleared, water supply issues).
  • They raise these issues and discuss them in the Ward Committee meetings or in the main Municipal Corporation meeting to find solutions.
  • Decisions like where to build a new hospital or a park are usually made by the Ward Councillors and the various committees they form.
• Municipal Commissioner and Administrative Staff:
  • The Municipal Commissioner is an officer appointed by the government. They are responsible for implementing the decisions made by the Ward Councillors and the Corporation.
  • The Commissioner and their staff implement the various programmes and projects.
  • The administrative staff includes engineers, accountants, health officers, sanitation inspectors, etc., who work in different departments.
• Departments of a Municipal Corporation: To manage various services efficiently, the Municipal Corporation is divided into different departments, such as:
  • Water Department
  • Health Department
  • Education Department
  • Garden Department
  • Sanitation Department
• Services Provided by the Municipal Corporation:
  • Providing clean drinking water.
  • Ensuring proper sanitation and garbage collection.
  • Maintaining streetlights.
  • Keeping the roads in good condition.
  • Running schools, hospitals, and dispensaries.
  • Maintaining parks and gardens.
  • Issuing birth and death certificates.
  • Organizing vaccination drives and public health awareness campaigns.
  • Disaster management and relief work.
• Sources of Income: To carry out its vast responsibilities, the Municipal Corporation needs a lot of money. Its main sources of income are:
  • Property Tax: Levied on houses and property. This is usually the largest source of income.
  • Water Tax: Charged for water supply.
  • Other Taxes: Such as entertainment tax, vehicle tax, and education tax.
  • Grants from the State Government: Funds received from the state government.
• Community Participation: Citizens can participate in urban administration by:
  • Electing their Ward Councillors.
  • Attending public meetings.
  • Forming Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to address local issues.
  • Raising awareness and voicing concerns through protests or petitions when services are not up to mark.

Questions and Answers

1. What is a Municipal Corporation?

Answer: A Municipal Corporation is a local governing body responsible for administering large cities and providing essential public services to the people living there. It ensures the smooth functioning of the city's infrastructure and public welfare.

2. What is the role of the Ward Councillor?

Answer: The role of a Ward Councillor (or Parshad) is:

• To represent the people of their specific ward.
• To bring the problems and concerns of their ward (like garbage collection, water supply, streetlights) to the Municipal Corporation.
• To participate in the decision-making process for the entire city, especially regarding issues affecting their ward, in various committees and full council meetings.

3. What does the Municipal Corporation do to keep the city clean?

Answer: To keep the city clean, the Municipal Corporation undertakes several tasks:

• It collects garbage from houses, streets, and public places using dustbins and collection vehicles.
• It ensures that drains and sewers are regularly cleaned to prevent blockages and the spread of diseases.
• It maintains public toilets and encourages proper waste disposal.
• It employs sanitation workers for sweeping streets and emptying bins.
• It also tries to process and dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly manner.

4. Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala’s house?

Answer: The children went to Yasmin Khala's house because they had broken a streetlight while playing cricket. They wanted to know who they should complain to about getting the street light repaired, and their mother suggested that Yasmin Khala, who used to work for the Municipal Corporation, would know the answer.

5. List four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of an urban dweller.

Answer: Four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of an urban dweller are:

• Water Supply: It provides clean drinking water, which is essential for daily life and health.
• Sanitation and Waste Management: It collects garbage and keeps the city clean, preventing the spread of diseases.
• Infrastructure: It maintains roads, streetlights, and public parks, making the city livable and safe.
• Public Health: It runs hospitals and dispensaries, organises vaccination campaigns, and ensures public health.

6. Fill in the blanks:

a) In a municipal corporation, the elected members are called _______.

b) A city is divided into many ________.

c) In a municipal corporation, decisions are taken by the ______ and _______.

d) Sanitation facilities are provided by the ________.

e) The Municipal Commissioner is appointed by the ________.

Answer:

a) In a municipal corporation, the elected members are called Ward Councillors / Parshads.

b) A city is divided into many Wards.

c) In a municipal corporation, decisions are taken by the Ward Councillors and Committees.

d) Sanitation facilities are provided by the Municipal Corporation.

e) The Municipal Commissioner is appointed by the Government.

7. How do the Municipal Corporation earn the money to do its work?

Answer: The Municipal Corporation earns money to do its work through various sources:

• Taxes: The main source of income is taxes, primarily property tax, which is levied on homes and property. Other taxes include water tax, entertainment tax, and vehicle tax.
• Fees and Charges: They collect fees for various services like issuing birth/death certificates, market fees, etc.
• Grants from State Government: They receive grants and funds from the state government to support their activities and projects.