Sameer and Anita

The chapter ends with two children talking. Anita is visiting her grandparents in the village; Sameer lives there.

Anita on the city: 'It's busy and crowded, with tall buildings everywhere. There are so many people rushing around all the time, and it's noisy compared to the quietness here. Also, people are more independent and often don't even know their neighbours.'

Sameer on the village: 'Here, everyone knows everyone else and pitches in to help each other out — we work together in the fields, celebrate festivals together, and even make decisions as a community.'

Anita does not let the city off so easily: 'Well, there's still some sense of community in the city. Just the other day, following heavy rains, a house collapsed two streets away. Dozens of people gathered from all over the place to help clear the rubble and make sure no one was trapped inside.'

Sameer asks whether the local government helps in such cases. Anita: 'Yes, it does. In fact, we have local bodies and elected representatives who represent us and our interests.'

Sameer: 'Well, it sounds like our village Panchayat, only bigger. Members are elected, too, but because they all know each other, a lot more people can participate and discuss all kinds of issues that concern the village. Sometimes, even us kids can get heard.'

Anita does not believe him, so he proves it: 'The other day a few kids noticed that an electricity wire was hanging dangerously low, almost touching the roof of a building. Not only did we report it, but we explained to one of our Gram Sabha members that an electric post should be shifted a little. And it was done!'

Anita: 'I suppose that's how democracy should work. It seems more complicated in the city, but the idea is the same — everyone's voice matters.' That is the chapter's own conclusion: urban local bodies have elected members who represent local citizens, and citizens also have duties so that those bodies can do their work.