In many villages, a small group in the Gram Sabha makes decisions on…

In many villages, a small group in the Gram Sabha makes decisions on development activities and allocates funds. This leaves the majority of villagers as:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Mere onlookers

Option (1) Dependent clients — Incorrect. A dependent client relies on a patron for favours. Here the majority is shut out of decisions on works and funds, with no patron tie involved.

Option (2) Passive voters — Incorrect. The majority does vote in panchayat elections. What it lacks is any real part in deciding works and funds.

Option (3) Mere onlookers — Correct. A small coterie of rich landlords makes the decisions on development activities and allocates the funds. So the silent majority is left as mere onlookers, watching but having no say.

Option (4) Bonded supporters — Incorrect. Bonded supporters would be people forced by debt or labour ties to back someone. The Gram Sabha point is about people shut out of decisions on works and funds.

NCERT (2026-27): “Democratisation and Inequality
It will be clear to you that democratisation is not easy in a society that has had a long history of inequality based on caste, community and gender. You have dealt with the different kinds of inequality in the earlier book. In Chapter 4 you will get a fuller sense of rural Indian structure. Given this unequal and undemocratic social structure, it is not surprising that in many cases, certain members belonging to particular groups, communities, castes of the village are not included or informed about meetings and activities of the village. The Gram Sabha members are often controlled by a small coterie of rich landlords usually hailing from the upper castes or landed peasantry. They make decisions on development activities, allocate funds, leaving the silent majority as mere onlookers.”