Q9 of 10 Page 37

Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.

(a) All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.


(b) The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving was that the government would reduce expenses on education and health.


(c) People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language the language spoken by 52 percent people of a country.


(d) Several organizations have given for peaceful demonstrations and national strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.


(e) The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers need to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests

(a) This is totally in the favor of democracy as in a democratic government everyone has the right to vote. Also, elections are to be held at a regular interval of time.

(b) Reduction of Education and health expenditure is against the welfare of the people. Moreover, the decision about the expenditure schematics needs to be made by the democratically elected government instead of any foreign organisations.


(c) In a democratic country, all the indigenous languages are given equal value and the state policy is neither in favor of nor against any language in particular. Education is to be provided in the mediums such that maximum number of citizens are benefited from it.


(d) In a democratic country, if the citizens are unhappy from the government policies then they have the right to make peaceful demonstrations and protests. The arrest of the leaders seems undemocratic at first but a judgement can’t be passed about in without knowing the scenario in which the arrests were made.


(e) In a democratic country like India one of the most important features of democracy is freedom that is given to media. If all the newspapers and television are being owned by government then the freedom of press and media is being violated, which is clearly an undemocratic practice.


More from this chapter

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6

There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?

 7

Write a response to the following arguments against democracy:

(a) Army is the most disciplined and Corruption-free organization in the country, therefore army should rule the country.


(b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.


(c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

 8

Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?

(a) Father to daughter: I don't want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.

(b) Teacher to student: Don't disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.

(c) Employee to the officer. Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

 10

In 2004 a report published in USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income reflected in the participation of people democracy. It also shaped their abilities influence the decisions taken by government. The report highlighted that:

● If an average Black family earns $100 then the income of average White family is $162. A White family has twelve times more wealth than the average Black family.


● In a President's election, nearly nine out of individuals in families with income over $75,000 have voted. These people are the top 20% the population in terms of their income. On the other hand, only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 5,000 have voted. They are the bottom 20% of the population terms of their income.


● About 95% contribution to the political Ties comes from the rich. This gives them opportunity to express their opinions and concerns, which is not available to most citizens.


● As poor sections participate less in politics, government does not listen to their concerns coming out of poverty, getting job, education, health care and housing from them. Politicians hear most regularly about the concerns of business and the rich.


Write an essay on "Democracy and Poverty" using the information given in this report but using examples from India.