Class 6 Social Studies Notes Chapter 7 (Urban Administration) – Social and Political Lifea Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 7, 'Urban Administration'. This is an important topic, not just for your exams but also for understanding how our cities function. Pay close attention as we break down the key concepts.

NCERT Class 6 Social and Political Life - Chapter 7: Urban Administration (Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation)

1. Introduction: Why Urban Administration?

• Cities are much larger than villages, with more people, complex needs, and diverse activities (markets, factories, offices, housing).
• Managing these requires a dedicated organisation responsible for providing essential services and infrastructure. This organisation is the urban local government.
• Unlike the Panchayati Raj system in rural areas, cities have Municipal Corporations (for big cities) or Municipal Councils (for smaller towns).

2. The Municipal Corporation / Municipal Council:

• What it is: The governing body responsible for the administration of a city or town.
  • Municipal Corporation (Nagar Nigam): For larger cities.
  • Municipal Council (Nagar Palika/Parishad): For smaller towns.
• Structure:
  • Wards: The city is divided into smaller geographical units called wards.
  • Ward Councillors (Parshads): Each ward elects one representative called a Ward Councillor. They are the elected members of the Municipal Corporation/Council.
  • Term: Councillors are usually elected for a term of five years.
• Decision Making:
  • All Ward Councillors meet to form the Council.
  • They make decisions regarding the city's budget, policies, and development plans.
  • Committees: To manage diverse tasks efficiently, Councillors form various committees (e.g., water committee, sanitation committee, road committee) to discuss specific issues and propose solutions. The final decisions are usually taken by the entire Council.

3. Role of the Ward Councillor:

• They are the link between the citizens of their ward and the Municipal Corporation/Council.
• People can approach their Councillor with problems related to electricity, water, garbage collection, road repairs, etc.
• The Councillor presents these issues in the Council meetings or relevant committee meetings.
• They play a crucial role in deciding where facilities like parks, hospitals, or community halls should be built.

4. Administrative Staff:

• While Councillors make decisions, the day-to-day implementation is done by the administrative staff.
• Commissioner: The chief executive officer, appointed by the state government (not elected). Responsible for implementing the Council's decisions.
• Other Staff: Includes engineers, health officers, sanitation inspectors, clerks, accountants, etc., who are government employees and carry out specific tasks.
• Key Difference: Councillors are elected representatives responsible for policy-making. The Commissioner and staff are appointed officials responsible for execution/implementation.

5. Functions of the Municipal Corporation/Council:

These bodies perform a wide range of functions essential for city life:

• Water Supply: Ensuring clean drinking water reaches all households.
• Garbage Collection and Disposal: Keeping the city clean, managing waste.
• Drainage System: Maintaining drains to prevent waterlogging.
• Street Lighting: Installing and maintaining streetlights.
• Roads: Construction and maintenance of city roads.
• Public Health: Running hospitals, dispensaries, vaccination drives, controlling epidemics (like malaria, dengue).
• Education: Running municipal schools.
• Parks and Markets: Maintaining public parks, gardens, and markets.
• Record Keeping: Registering births and deaths.
• Building Regulations: Approving building plans.
• Fire Services: Maintaining fire brigades.

6. Sources of Funds (Income):

Running a city requires significant funds. The Municipal Corporation/Council gets money from:

• Taxes:
  • Property Tax: A major source of income, levied on land and buildings.
  • Water Tax: For providing water supply.
  • Entertainment Tax: On cinemas, events, etc.
  • Taxes on Shops and Businesses (Trade Licenses).
  • Toll Tax: On roads and bridges.
• Fees and Charges: For specific services like birth/death registration, building plan approval.
• Grants: Financial assistance received from the State Government.
• Rent: From municipal properties (shops, markets, community halls).

7. Citizen Participation and Grievance Redressal:

• Citizens play a vital role. They elect Councillors and pay taxes.
• They can voice their demands and grievances:
  • By contacting their Ward Councillor.
  • By submitting petitions or signature campaigns.
  • Through peaceful protests or demonstrations.
  • By approaching the municipal office directly.
• An active and aware citizenry ensures better accountability from the administration.

8. Sub-contracting:

• To manage the workload or reduce costs, Municipal Corporations sometimes hire private contractors for specific tasks (e.g., garbage collection, road construction).
• This is called sub-contracting. While it can sometimes be efficient, monitoring the quality of work done by private contractors is crucial.

9. Case Study Example (from the book):

• The chapter often uses examples like Yasmin Khala explaining the work of the municipality, or the story of Gangabai protesting garbage issues, to illustrate how the system works and how citizens can participate.
• The Surat plague (1994) example highlights the critical importance of sanitation and the role of the Municipal Corporation in public health. Surat transformed itself into one of India's cleanest cities after that crisis.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What is the governing body called in large cities like Delhi or Mumbai?
   a) Gram Panchayat
   b) Municipal Council
   c) Municipal Corporation
   d) Zila Parishad

2. Who is the elected representative of a specific area (ward) within a city?
   a) Commissioner
   b) Mayor
   c) Ward Councillor
   d) District Collector

3. Who is the chief administrative officer responsible for implementing decisions in a Municipal Corporation?
   a) Mayor
   b) Ward Councillor
   c) Commissioner
   d) Sarpanch

4. Which of the following is a major source of income for the Municipal Corporation?
   a) Income Tax
   b) Property Tax
   c) Sales Tax
   d) Agricultural Tax

5. How are Ward Councillors chosen?
   a) Appointed by the State Government
   b) Elected directly by the people of the ward
   c) Nominated by the Mayor
   d) Selected by the Commissioner

6. Keeping the city clean through garbage collection and disposal is a primary function of the:
   a) State Government
   b) Central Government
   c) Police Department
   d) Municipal Corporation/Council

7. The city is divided into several smaller units for election purposes, known as:
   a) Districts
   b) Blocks
   c) Wards
   d) Panchayats

8. If citizens are unhappy with a service like garbage collection, who is the first elected official they should typically approach?
   a) The Prime Minister
   b) The Chief Minister
   c) The Ward Councillor
   d) The Commissioner

9. The system of hiring private companies to perform tasks like waste collection is known as:
   a) Privatisation
   b) Sub-contracting
   c) Nationalisation
   d) Grant-in-aid

10. Which body is responsible for maintaining streetlights and ensuring water supply within a city?
    a) Electricity Board only
    b) Water Department only
    c) Urban Local Body (Municipality/Corporation)
    d) Public Works Department (State)

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) Municipal Corporation
2. c) Ward Councillor
3. c) Commissioner
4. b) Property Tax
5. b) Elected directly by the people of the ward
6. d) Municipal Corporation/Council
7. c) Wards
8. c) The Ward Councillor
9. b) Sub-contracting
10. c) Urban Local Body (Municipality/Corporation)

Make sure you revise these points thoroughly. Understanding the structure, functions, and funding of urban local bodies is crucial for your exams. Let me know if any part needs further clarification.