What are Panchayats and how do they function in Indian villages?

Here are the solutions for Activity 2, Activity 3, and Activity 4.

Activity 2: True or False

1. India has only villages and no cities.
   • False
2. Panchayati Raj is a form of self-government.
   • True
3. Panchayats make decisions without people's participation.
   • False
4. Panchayats help in local development.
   • True
5. Government schemes do not reach villages.
   • False

Activity 3: Short Answer Questions

1. What is a Panchayat? A Panchayat is a local self-government body at the village level in India, responsible for local administration and development.

2. Why is Panchayati Raj called self-government? Panchayati Raj is called self-government because it empowers local communities to govern themselves and make decisions about their own development, promoting decentralized governance.

3. How do Panchayats help people in villages? Panchayats help by providing basic amenities like water and sanitation, maintaining local infrastructure such as roads and schools, implementing development schemes, and resolving local disputes.

4. What kind of issues do Panchayats solve? Panchayats solve issues related to water supply, sanitation, street lighting, primary education, health services, agricultural development, and land disputes.

Activity 4: Match the Following

• 1. Panchayat $\rightarrow$ b. Local government
• 2. Population $\rightarrow$ a. 1.4 billion
• 3. Villages $\rightarrow$ c. 600,000
• 4. Development $\rightarrow$ d. Improving village life