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Exercises Page No. 99
1. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
Answer.
The government can be accountable by framing and developing various laws and policies in which citizens can hold the government responsible if any of those policies and laws are not implemented or are held against the welfare of the citizens.The government can be responsible when people start taking actions when the government becomes insensitive about their aspirations. People can hold protests, carry out campaigns and organise rallies and force the government to respond to them. A democratic government is a legitimate government, as it is elected by citizens and enjoys the confidence and trust of the citizens.
2. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
Answer.
Social diversities can be accommodated by focussing on all the communities of the society. The majority and minority communities should be given equal attention. Democracy is not the rule of the majority. In democratic countries, both the majority and minority work together to achieve progress and development of the nation. It is equally important to understand that the rule of the majority is not expressed in terms of religion or languages. Any person or group may become a majority in a democracy.
3. Give arguments to support or oppose the following assertions:
Answer.
4. Identify the challenges to democracy in the following descriptions. Also, suggest policy/institutional mechanism to deepen democracy in the given situations:
a) Following a High Court directive, a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for Dalits and non-Dalits allowed entry for all from the same door.
Answer:
The biggest challenge to democracy, in this case, is if such practices continue in the country, there is a threat that discrimination based on caste, colour and creed cannot be eliminated. If people indulge in such practices, legal actions can be taken against them. The Constitution clearly states that discrimination of any kind will be considered a crime and a big threat to the peace of the country. In such cases, serious actions must be taken against the people so that the communal harmony of the country does not gets disturbed.
b) A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India.
Answer: A large number of farmers are committing suicides in different states of India because of the economic inequality in the country. Farmers in villages grow crops on a small piece of land, and if the weather conditions do not stay stable, the farmer has to suffer serious loss. He is further unable to repay the loan taken from the moneylender or the bank and gets overburdened by the loan. These cases have increased in the country over the past few years, and the poor farmers take such severe steps like committing suicide. The government should provide these farmers with cheap fertilizers and seeds and provide them with better irrigation methods.
c) Following allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.
Answer: Allegations of killing three civilians in Gandwara by the Jammu and Kashmir police in a fake encounter raises questions on the police force of the state. The challenge here is to control the power of the police and other authoritative officials.
5. In the context of democracies, which of the following ideas is correct – democracies have successfully eliminated:
Answer.
D. the idea of political inequality
6. In the context of assessing democracy which among the following is odd one out. Democracies need to ensure:
Answer.
C. Majority rule
7. Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that
Answer.
B. inequalities exist in democracies.