Here are some challenges that require political reforms. Discuss these challenges in detail. Study the reform options offered here and give your preferred solutions with reasons. Remember that none of the options offered here is right or wrong. You can opt for a mix of more than one option, or come up with same thing that is not offered here. But you must give your solution in details and after reasons for your choice. Doctors’ absenteeism Political funding Challenge:Uttar Pradesh government got a survey done and found out that most of the doctors posted in the rural primary health centres are simply not there. They live in a town, carry out private practice and visit the village where they are posted only once or twice in the entire month. Villagers have to travel to towns and pay very high fee to private doctors even for common ailments. Reform proposals:• The government should make it compulsory for the doctors to live in the village where they are posted, otherwise their service should be terminated. • District administration and police should carry out surprise raids to check the attendance of the doctors. • Village Panchayat should be given the power to write the annual report of the doctor which should be read out in the gram sabha meeting. • Problems like this can be solved only if Uttar Pradesh is split into several smaller states which can be administered more efficiently. Challenge:On an average, every candidate who contested the last Lok Sabha elections owned a property of more than Rs. 1 crore. There is a fear that only wealthy people or those with their support can afford to fight elections. Most of the political parties are dependent on money given by big business houses. The worry is that the role of money in politics will reduce whatever little voice the poor have in our democracy. Reform proposals: • The financial accounts of every political party should be made public. These accounts should be examined by government auditors. • There should be state funding of elections. Parties should be given some money by the government to meet their election expenditure. • Citizens should be encouraged to give more donations to parties and to political workers. Such donations should be exempted from income tax. from Social Science Challenges to Democracy Class 10 CBSE

Here are some challenges that require political reforms. Discuss these challenges in detail. Study the reform options offered here and give your preferred solutions with reasons. Remember that none of the options offered here is right or wrong. You can opt for a mix of more than one option, or come up with same thing that is not offered here. But you must give your solution in details and after reasons for your choice.

Doctors’ absenteeism

Political funding

Challenge:
Uttar Pradesh government got a survey done and found out that most of the doctors posted in the rural primary health centres are simply not there. They live in a town, carry out private practice and visit the village where they are posted only once or twice in the entire month. Villagers have to travel to towns and pay very high fee to private doctors even for common ailments.

Reform proposals:
• The government should make it compulsory for the doctors to live in the village where they are posted, otherwise their service should be terminated.

• District administration and police should carry out surprise raids to check the attendance of the doctors.

• Village Panchayat should be given the power to write the annual report of the doctor which should be read out in the gram sabha meeting.

• Problems like this can be solved only if Uttar Pradesh is split into several smaller states which can be administered more efficiently.

Challenge:
On an average, every candidate who contested the last Lok Sabha elections owned a property of more than Rs. 1 crore. There is a fear that only wealthy people or those with their support can afford to fight elections. Most of the political parties are dependent on money given by big business houses. The worry is that the role of money in politics will reduce whatever little voice the poor have in our democracy.

Reform proposals:

• The financial accounts of every political party should be made public. These accounts should be examined by government auditors.

• There should be state funding of elections. Parties should be given some money by the government to meet their election expenditure.

• Citizens should be encouraged to give more donations to parties and to political workers. Such donations should be exempted from income tax.

(a) Doctor’s absenteeism: Doctor's absenteeism can be controlled by making it compulsory for the doctors to live in the village of their posting. Secondly, they should be debarred from doing private practice. These rules should be part of their terms and conditions for appointment. These conditions must be strictly followed. Surprise checks by the department should be made. The erring doctors should be punished by the department.

(b) Political funding: Role of money in elections in India has been increasing for the last few years. It is necessary to curb the role of money to make democracy more successful. The first, two proposals i.e. auditing of accounts of the political parties and state funding are good because these reforms will bring transparency in the finances of the political parties. Secondly, state funding will reduce the expenditure on elections. Role of money will be less and the poor candidates may also be fight elections.

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