Chapter 5 - District Administration
1. Answer in one sentence.
(1) Who heads the District Administration?
Ans: The District Collector is the head of the district administration.
(2) What is the responsibility of the Tahsildar?
Ans: The Tahsildar has the responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the taluka.
(3) Which court is at the apex of the judiciary?
Ans: The Supreme Court of India is at the apex of the judiciary.
(4) Which disasters can we be forewarned about?
Ans: Disasters like floods, earthquakes and storms can be forewarned about.
2. Match the following.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
(a) District Collector | (1) Taluka Magistrate |
(b) District Court | (2) Maintaining law and order |
(c) Tahsildar | (3) Resolving disputes |
Ans:
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
(a) District Collector | (2) Maintaining law and order |
(b) District Court | (3) Resolving disputes |
(c) Tahsildar | (1) Taluka Magistrate |
3. Discuss the following issues.
(1) Disaster Management
Ans:
(i) Sometimes, we may have to face a calamity. It could be a natural disaster like floods, fire, a cloudburst, cyclone, earthquake, landslide or problems like riots, bomb blasts, breaking of a dam, epidemics, etc.
(ii) These disasters lead to loss of human lives and displacement of people beside tremendous financial loss. Therefore, the issues of rehabilitation become important.
(iii) ‘Disaster Management’ is a process which enables one to face a disaster in a scientific and organized manner.
(iv) The entire machinery of a district is involved in this process.
(v) Advances in technology make it possible for us to get prior information about several kinds of disasters. For example, a system which can predict and warn us of floods or storms has been developed. These help us to be better prepared to face the disaster.
(2) Functions of the District Collector
Ans: The District Collector is the head of the district administration. Functions of the District Collector are:
(i) To collect agricultural tax.
(ii) Establish peace in the district.
(iii) To ensure smooth conduct of elections.
(iv) To take quick decisions during times of disaster and prevent or minimise the damage.
(v) To implement laws relating to agriculture.
(vi) To maintain social harmony.
(vii) To take necessary decisions related to the electoral process.
(viii) To give orders to the disaster management units / cells.
(ix) To provide relief in case of drought and scarcity of fodder.
(x) To restrict unlawful assembly, impose curfew if required.
(xi) To update the voters’ lists.
(xii) To rehabilitate / those affected by a disaster.
4. Which of the following positions would you like to be in, and why?
(1) District Collector
(2) Chief of the District Police
(3) Judge
Ans: I would like to be the District Collector if I get a chance. This is because a District Collector performs various functions such as maintaining law and order, facilitating smooth conduct of elections, ensuring smooth functioning of the Agriculture industry and disaster management. All these functions are very important for the people of a district.