Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow (Q. 46-50):…
2022
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow (Q. 46-50):
Public action, in a broad sense, can play a central role in economic development and in bringing social opportunities within the reach of people as a whole. Sometimes public action is characterised in the economic literature as action by the government, not as action by the public itself. This interpretation can be seriously misleading as it draws attention away from the influence that the public can have in determining the direction of governmental action. Actions of the public can be of profound significance to the successes and failures of economic and social change in general, and to development efforts in particular. The role of public activism in influencing government policy can be particularly important in promoting the positive functions of the government. These positive functions include the provisions of public services such as health care, child immunisation, primary education, social security, environmental protection and rural infrastructure. The vigilance and involvement of the public can be quite crucial not only in ensuring an adequate expansion of these essential services but also in monitoring their functioning. Indeed the actual reach and effective quality of the services that are meant to be, in principle available often depends a great deal on the information that the local community gathers and the extent to which it can get its voice heard. The shirking and absenteeism of village teachers for example are much more easily observed by the villagers themselves than by the government inspectors and the search for redress can be more effectively achieved with local activism. Besides, schools, hospitals and other facilities can be made more sensitive to the public needs if there is a local pressure in that direction, better than the directions from the above.
What does the passage advocate to make services sensitive to public needs?
Answer: A. Pressure by beneficiaries — ConceptIn reading comprehension, answer a direct-detail question by matching the wording and relationship in the question to the passage. Distinguish the…
- A.
Pressure by beneficiaries
- B.
Information gathering
- C.
Government monitoring
- D.
Checking absenteeism among public employees
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
In reading comprehension, answer a direct-detail question by matching the wording and relationship in the question to the passage. Distinguish the requested final mechanism from related supporting activities or examples.
Application
The question asks what makes services sensitive to public needs. The final sentence says schools, hospitals, and other facilities become more sensitive when there is local pressure rather than only directions from above. The people who use or benefit from those services provide that local pressure.
Contrast
Pressure by beneficiaries expresses the passage’s local-pressure mechanism.
Information gathering provides evidence about reach and quality for community monitoring.
Government monitoring uses official inspection and administrative oversight.
Checking absenteeism among public employees is one example of community observation used to seek redress.
Cross-check
Earlier, the passage says public activism can influence government policy, which supports the same local-pressure interpretation. Therefore, the answer is Pressure by beneficiaries.