TOPIC: PUBLIC FACILITIES
(CIVICS)
CLASS :
VIII
PREPARED BY: GEORGEKUTTY XAVIER
WATER AND THE PEOPLE
OF CHENNAI
• (1) Mr. Ramagopal of Anna Nagar uses
tap water lavishly.
• He also arranges water by water tanker.
• (2) Subramanian’s apartments in Mylapore
suffers from water shortage.
• Municipal water comes once in two days.
• Residents at Mylapore depend on private
borewell water too.
• Subramanian spends upto Rs 500-600 per
month to buy water from tankers.
• (3) Siva of Madipakkam lives on a rent
house.
• Siva gets water that comes once in
four days and she buys bottled water.
• (4) Padma in Saidapet lives in a
slum
area which lacks other living facilities.
• 30 hutments use one common tap and
water comes from a borewell for 20
mts twice a day.
• In summer they suffer from water
shortage.
• People have to wait long hours for water
tankers.
WATER AS PART OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO
LIFE
• Water is essential for life and good health.
• It is necessary to meet our daily needs.
• Safe drinking water can prevent many water –related
diseases.
• Access to safe drinking water can prevent the death of
children.
RIGHT TO WATER
• The Constitution of India recognizes right to
water is a part of Right to Life under Article 21.
• Right to water means universal access to water.
• Sufficient amounts of water to fulfil daily needs
at an affordable price.
• There have been several court cases in which
the High Court and the Supreme Court have
held that the right to safe drinking is a
Fundamental Right.
• Eg: The verdict of Andhra Pradesh High Court
in 2007.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
• Water, healthcare, sanitation, electricity,
transport, schools and colleges.
• Characteristics of Public Facilities;
• Once provided, its benefits can be shared by
many people.
• E.g.: A School in a village will enable many
children to get educated.
• The supply of electricity in an area can be useful
for many people.
THE GOVERNMENT’S
ROLE
• Public Facilities must be made available to everyone by
the Government.
• Private companies are not interested in the provision of
public facilities. E.g.; keeping the drains clean and an
anti-malaria campaign.
• Private companies are interested in other facilities such
as schools and hospitals.
• They supply drinking water in sealed bottles.
• When public facilities are provided at a price, some can
only afford. Ability to pay for a public facility will
deprive many from having the facilities.
• Public facilities relate to people’s basic needs, therefore
the government has a responsibility to provide these.
WATER SUPPLY TO CHENNAI:
IS IT AVAILABLE TO ALL?
• Public facilities should be made available to all, but there is
a great shortage of such facilities.
• E.g.: Water supply in Chennai.
• Municipal supply meets only about half of the people in the
city.
• There are areas very close to the storage point that get
water regularly than others.
• The poor are the most affected.
• The middle class depend on digging borewells,
buying water from tankers and using bottled
water.
• Access to safe drinking water is also available to
some who can afford to buy.
• Universal access to sufficient and safe water
becomes a far cry.
IN SEARCH OF
• Water shortage ALTERNATIVES.
is common in other cities of India.
• The shortage in Municipal water is filled by an expansion
of private companies.
• The supply and use of water from person to person differ.
• Shortage of Municipal water is a sign of failure of the
Government.
• Some argue for private companies as there is shortage of
Municipal water.
• Why should not the government withdraw the task of
supplying water?
• 1.Throughout the world, water supply is a function of the
government.
• There are very few instances of private water supply.
• 2.There are areas in the world where public water supply
has achieved universal access.
• 3.Wherever the private companies were allowed to supply
water riots broke out due to unaffordable price and
forcing the government to take back this service.
• 4. There are cases of success in government water supply
• E.g.:(a) The water supply department in Mumbai
• (b) The water supply department in Hyderabad.
• (c)In Chennai, the department has taken up rain water
harvesting to increase the level of groundwater and allowing
private companies to transport and distribute water with
government rate for water tankers.
CONCLUSIO
N
•P ublic facilities are related to basic needs.
• The Indian Constitution recognizes the right to water, health and
education as Right to Life.
• It is a role of the government to ensure adequate public facilities
for everyone.
• The shortage in supply causes inequality in distribution.
• Towns and villages are under-provided.
• Poorer localities are under-serviced.
• Provision of public facilities by private companies is not always the
right answer.
• Every citizen of the Country has a right to public facilities which
should be provided in an equitable manner.
