We, the People - Session 5 Presentation Slides

1. STRUCTURE &
RESPONSIBILITIES OF
STATES
SESSION Duration: 2 hours
2

2. Key Message:
 Citizenship means reflecting and living our
constitutional values
 Fundamental Duties flow out of the basic
values
 Align our actions with our values and
fundamental duties to create change

3. Activity 1
Form small groups among yourselves and come up with a list of
actions/tasks that need to be done to run/manage a school in an orderly
manner. Also, think about how you will ensure that these actions/tasks are
done properly.

4. De-brief Questions:
.
What are
the
responsibiliti
es we take
on for
running/man
aging the
school?
.
What is
needed to
ensure good
management?
. Similarly, what
are all the
responsibilities
that are
needed to
run/manage
the country?
.
What are
the rules
that are
needed to
manage the
country?
What are
these rules
called?

5. Proper running of the country:
“For the smooth running of the nation there are three main functions done
by the Legislature (making laws), executive (implementing laws) and
Judiciary (interpreting and keeping a check).”

6. Activity 2
Each group should list the State agencies/people/authorities that you have
come in contact with and fill the grid. Each group should give thought to
whether the agency/person is working at the Central level or State
(Gujarat/Maharastra etc.) level.

7. Share and Discuss:
 The Legislative in India is divided into three
Lists – The Union List, the State List and the
Concurrent List.
 There is an overlap between legislative and
executive.
 Under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional
Amendments, it was decided to empower local
administrative bodies and to ensure greater
participation of people in the functioning of
these bodies.

8. Overlap b/w legislative and
executive
Central
Legislature
(MPs)
Central
Executive
State
Legislature
(MLAs)
State
Executive
Political
Executive/ Union
Cabinet headed
by Prime
Minister
Political
Executive/Council
of Ministers headed
by Chief Minister

9. De-brief Questions:
.
What do you
think are the
responsibilities
of the various
government
departments
and officials?
. On what
basis do the
government
department
s execute?
. How do
they know
what they
are
supposed
to be
doing?
.
How are
their
responsibilitie
s decided?

10. Analogy:
Rules &
Orders
(leaves)
Law & Acts
(branches)
Fundamenta
l Rights
(trunk)
The Preamble
(Roots)

11. Share, Discuss and
Summarize:
 It is important to know this so that we can approach the right
authority for our problems and needs and direct our actions and
efforts at the right authority
 Also, it shows us that there are many levels of officials in each arm
of the State. So, if the lower level officials are not responding, we
can go higher up the chain till our objective is achieved.
 If there is a problem around implementation of an existing rule or
law, we need to file a complaint with the relevant government
department first
 If there is a problem that demands a new rule then we need to
petition the relevant government department and also petition our
elected representative
 If there is a problem that demands a new law or changing the
existing law, then we need to petition our elected representative.
Demanding change from the government department is not likely to
help much

12. Actions for next session:
Draw out the three organs of
the state and under each head
(legislature, executive and
judiciary) write out the names
of persons/departments that
are responsible for your
locality. For example, write
down the names of the
corporator, MP and MLA from
your locality. Also, write down
the name and address of the
public departments
responsible for sanitation,
roads building and
maintenance etc.