Comprehension Unit 1

Std 10 English — Section A Solutions

Unit 1: Against the Odds

(1) Taj Nagar Railway Station

For twenty-five years, residents of Taj Nagar village near Gurgaon lobbied for a railway station in their village. When their demand was not met, the villagers decided to take matters into their own hands. They pooled in twenty-one lakh rupees and built a railway station on their own.

1. For what did the residents of Taj Nagar lobby? How long?

Ans - The residents of Taj Nagar lobbied for a railway station in their village for twenty-five years.

2. What did the villagers decide? Why?

Ans - The villagers decided to take matters into their own hands because their demand for a railway station was not met.

(2) Sitapur's Light

In rural Uttar Pradesh, over sixty per cent of households are without power. Sitapur district is one such place with no power. A small social enterprise called Mera Gao Power (MGP) is trying to change things. They are putting two solar panels at a time. In just over a year, MGP has connected more than 3,500 customers to solar power mini-grids at a village level.

1. What is the main problem in rural Uttar Pradesh?

Ans - The main problem in rural Uttar Pradesh is that over sixty per cent of households are without power.

2. What is the result of MGP's efforts?

Ans - As a result of MGP's effort, more than 3,500 customers are connected to solar power mini-grids.

(3) Benefits of Solar Power

"We're saving our environment with these lights, and there's no pollution in our homes either," says a farmer from the village.

"New businesses are starting to emerge amongst the customers too," says another. "In one village, customers are using the light to weave saris by night. In another, one man now has a night business making plastic tablecloth," he says.

"It's nice to have light while we cook and eat. Our children are also studying more now," says a lady.

1. What are the advantages of solar power?

Ans - Solar power saves environment, stops pollution and helps to start new businesses.

2. Why are the people of the village happy?

Ans - The people of the village are happy because they have light while they cook and eat and the children are also studying more.

(4) Palakkad's District Public Library

In Kerala, the Palakkad District Public Library has been up and running since September 2013. It is a fine modern library, a centre for information, knowledge, wisdom, cultural activities, research and reference. But it has recently been in the news for different reasons. A third of its thousand members are women. These women, supported by the shared space the library offered them, launched a women's unit in February, 2014. The unit got together to discuss methods of empowering women.

1. When was the Palakkad District Library started?

Ans - The Palakkad District Library was started in September 2013.

2. What is unique about the library members?

Ans - One-third of the thousand members of the library are women.

(5) Encouraging Women Empowerment

Palakkad's district library stands tall as a beacon to encourage women's empowerment through classes, clubs, workshops and reading rooms. And then, there are the books, which will provide the women the strength they need to make good use of these opportunities.

1. How does the library encourage women empowerment?

Ans - The library encourages women empowerment through classes, clubs, workshops and reading rooms.

2. What does the library stand as?

Ans - The library stands as a beacon to encourage women's empowerment through classes, clubs, workshops and reading rooms.