Q1. What is the reason for a low number of infant death rates in Porto Alegre?
Solution
The reasons are as follows:
- The city’s water department has achieved universal access to safe water.
- The average price of water is kept low.
- The poor are charged half the basic rate.
- The profit made by the water department is used to improve water supply.
- The working of the water department is transparent and people can have a direct say in deciding which projects the department should take up.
Q2. What is an important function of the government?
Solution
An important function of the government is to ensure that all the public facilities are made possible for everyone.
Q3. What are the benefits of supplying public facility electricity?
Solution
The supply of electricity to an area can be useful for people such as farmers who can run pump sets to irrigate their fields. People can open small workshops where the machines run on electricity. Students will find it easy to study even after sunset.
Q4. What is an important characteristic of a public facility?
Solution
An important characteristic of a public facility is that it has to be provided by the government. The benefits of a public facility can be shared by many people. For example, a school in the village will enable many children to get an education.
Q5. Someone must carry the responsibility of providing public facilities to the people. Who is ‘someone’ in the given statement?
Solution
The word ‘someone’ in the given statement is used for the government.
Q6. What comment was given by United Nations in 2000 regarding water?
Solution
In 2000, United Nations stated that ‘right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use’.
Q7. What are the various ways by which middle class people can cope with the shortfalls of water?
Solution
The middle class, when faced with water shortages, are able to cope
- Through a variety of private means such as digging bore wells.
- Buying water from tankers.
- Using bottled water for drinking.
Q8. How is the sanitation coverage in India?
Solution
The sanitation coverage in India is really bad and lower than the coverage of safe drinking water. Official figures for 2001 show that 68% of the households in India have access to drinking water and about 36% have access to sanitation (toilet facilities within the premises of residence).
Q9. What do you mean by Public Facilities?
Solution
Public Facilities are essential needs that have to be provided to everyone by the government of the country. Examples:
- Healthcare
- Sanitation
- Electricity
- Public Transport
- Schools
- Colleges