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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
An experiment in Brazil:
A city called Porto Alegre in Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment in combining decentralisation with participative democracy. The city has set up a parallel organisation operating alongside the municipal council, enabling local inhabitants to take real decisions for their city. The nearly 13 lakh people in this city get to participate in making the budget for their own city. The city is divided into many sectors or what we call wards. Each sector has a meeting, like that of the gram sabha, in which anyone living in that area can participate. There are some meetings to discuss issues that affect the entire city. Any citizen of the city can participate in those meetings. The budget of the city is discussed in these meetings. The proposals are put to the municipality that takes a final decision about it. About 20,000 people participate in this decision making exercise every year. This method has ensured that the money cannot be spent only for the benefit of the colonies where rich people live. Buses now run to the poor colonies and builders cannot evict slum-dwellers without resettling them. In our own country, a similar experiment has taken place in some areas in Kerala. Ordinary people have participated in making a plan for the development of their locality.
Answer the following questions on the basis of the above passage:
Question (i)
Which city of Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment? What was the experiment?
Answer:
From the Paragraph,
A city called Porto Alegre in Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment in combining decentralization with participative democracy. The city has set up a parallel organisation operating alongside the municipal council, enabling local inhabitants to take real decisions for their city.
Porto Alegre, a city in Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment. This experiment includes c ombining decentralization with participative democracy .
Question (ii)
What has the city set up and why?
Answer:
From the Paragraph,
A city called Porto Alegre in Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment in combining decentralization with participative democracy. The city has set up a parallel organisation operating alongside the municipal council, enabling local inhabitants to take real decisions for their city.
Porto Alegre set up a parallel organization that was operating alongside the municipal council that enables the local inhabitants to take real decisions for the city.
Question (iii)
What has this method ensured its people?
Answer:
From the Paragraph,
About 20,000 people participate in this decision-making exercise every year. T his method has ensured that the money cannot be spent only for the benefit of the colonies where rich people live. Buses now run to the poor colonies and builders cannot evict slum-dwellers without resettling them.
- This method has ensured that the money cannot be spent solely for the benefit of wealthy colonies.
- Buses now run to poor colonists, and builders cannot evict slum dwellers without relocating them.
