Class 8 English Chapter 4 Dokchory Learns About the Panchayat
Subject: English
Board: SEBA Assam
Medium: English
Introduction
This lesson tells the story of Dokchory, a schoolgirl, and her conversation with her father (Ba-bu) about how the local Panchayat works. Through a simple dialogue we learn what a Panchayat is, how it helps villagers, where it gets money, and the kinds of development work it does like repairing roads, building houses for the needy and running welfare schemes. The lesson also discusses civic duties and ways to help people with special needs.
Short Summary
Dokchory is a class VIII student who loves the bicycle rides her father gives her. One day she notices the Panchayat office and asks her father what a Panchayat is. Her father explains that originally a Panchayat was run by five elders; now it is an elected body that plans development and spends money for public welfare. The Panchayat builds and repairs roads, bridges and houses for the poor and gets money from local taxes, bazaars, river ghats and government grants. They also receive help from MLAs or ministers occasionally. Dokchory suggests building a home for a disabled man, and her father says the Panchayat did build one but the man left; still, the Panchayat supports people with special needs. The chapter ends with activities: vocabulary, comprehension, reported speech practice and a short assembly speech example.
Textual Questions & Model Answers
- Who is Dokchory? Answer: Dokchory is a student of Class VIII from Disangmukh Janajati High School. She enjoys bicycle rides and likes learning new things every day.
- What did Dokchory notice near the road? Answer: Dokchory noticed the Panchayat office with a new signboard and asked her father about it.
- What was the Panchayat long ago? Answer: Long ago, Panchayats were a system of governance run by five elderly men called Panch Gramin Pramukhs who settled disputes and ruled the village.
- Who can contest Panchayat elections now? Answer: Nowadays anyone above 21 years of age can contest Panchayat elections.
- What kind of work does the Panchayat do? Answer: The Panchayat repairs and builds rural roads, bridges, and houses for the poor; it also plans development schemes and supports local welfare work.
- Where does the Panchayat get money from? Answer: The Panchayat raises money from small local taxes (on vehicles, river ghats, bazaars), receives annual government grants and sometimes assistance from MLAs or ministers.
- How did the Panchayat help Dhaniram? Answer: The Panchayat built a house for Dhaniram, a disabled man, to help him live with dignity. Although he left later, the Panchayat still supports special-needs people.
- What does Konke Mili advise about helping people with special needs? Answer: Konke Mili advises volunteering, teaching chores, and helping them to live independently so they can enjoy normal lives.
Quick Recall Short Questions & Answers
- What does ‘Panchayat’ mean now? It is the elected local body responsible for village development and local governance.
- Are Panchayats important? Yes. They are crucial for local development and social change.
- Give examples of Panchayat schemes. Road repair, bridge construction, welfare houses, small local grants and community services.
- Why should young people help the Panchayat work? To learn civic responsibility and to support vulnerable people in the community.
Complete the Following Sentences
- Dokchory studies in Class VIII.
- The Panchayat raises money from local taxes, bazaars and river ghats.
- To contest Panchayat elections one has to be 21 years old.
- The Panchayat builds and repairs rural roads and bridges.
- Konke Mili suggests volunteering to help people with special needs.
Activities (Answers Provided)
1. Match the words with meanings (selected)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| institution | an organization or structure responsible for public work |
| elections | the exercise through which we vote for new leaders |
| differently-abled | having a physical or mental condition that makes routine work difficult |
| substantial | large in size or amount |
| rural | relating to a village or the countryside |
2. Fill the table (short answers)
The Panchayat quick facts
- Meaning: Local elected body responsible for village development
- Minimum age to contest: 21 years
- Powers of a Panchayat: Raise small local taxes, plan local schemes, carry out public works
- Kinds of work: Build/repair roads, bridges, houses for the poor, run small welfare projects
- Sources of money: Local taxes (vehicles, bazaars, ghats), government grants, political support (occasionally)
3. Test your memory sample match (from the quiz pages)
Example pair: “vow a formal and serious promise” (from the lesson’s highlighted vocabulary)
Grammar: Reported Speech & Imperatives
Reported Questions (WH-questions)
In the lesson Dokchory asks: “What is a Panchayat, Ba-bu?”
Reported form: She asked her father what a Panchayat was.
Rules: When changing direct WH-questions into reported speech, keep the WH word and use a reporting verb (asked, wanted to know) followed by the clause in past tense.
Imperative Sentences
Example from the lesson: “Do something for the old man.”
Reported: She asked him to do something for the old man.
Practice: Change the following imperatives into reported form:
- “Repair the roads.” → He asked them to repair the roads.
- “Build a house for Dhaniram.” → The Panchayat was asked to build a house for Dhaniram.
Model Assembly Speech (Diary / Class Activity)
Write / Deliver this as Dokchory (sample):
Good morning Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends.
Today I am going to talk about our Panchayat and how it works for the welfare of our village. The Panchayat builds roads and helps the poor with houses and other schemes. It raises money from local taxes and receives grants from the government. Every young person should support the Panchayat by volunteering and helping those who are differently-abled. Thank you.
Notice / Poster (Activity)
Task: Prepare a notice inviting students for a meeting to help clean the village road. Include date, time, place and contact person. (Use short bullet points for the notice.)
Poem Reference (Short note)
The textbook places short poems or recitation pieces near development chapters; for example, a poem like ‘Love of Country’ is used for reading and speaking practice. For exams, learn the poem’s theme (patriotism), a few lines, and the meanings of highlighted words (vow, fame, striving, bugle) as given in the activity page.
Exam Tips & Revision Notes
- Memorise the Panchayat’s main sources of money and three types of work (roads, bridges, houses).
- Practice changing these direct sentences into reported speech and imperatives into reported requests.
- Prepare the short assembly speech; teachers often ask students to present it in class.
- Learn vocabulary from the activities institution, governance, substantial, differently-abled, scheme.