Published by: Nuru
Published date: 10 Dec 2021
In this chapter, we discuss about the duties of citizen in Civic sense of Grade 8 Social Studies, Reference Notes.
Duty, simply, means doing something good for others' benefit. It is a responsibility that a person assumes to other individuals and the society he/she lives in. Rights, on the one hand, are facilities, benefits or opportunities obtained by a person from others. They are never absolute. They correspond to respective duties.
For example, to get the education is your right but to obey rules of your school is your duty connected with your right to education. Similarly, someone's right is another duty. It's your parents duty to make necessary arrangement for your education. One cannot claim right without commitment to do his/her duties.
So rights and duties emerge and go together. They can be considered to be the two sides of a single coin or the wheel of a single cart.It is the duty of every person to uphold the provisions of the constitution of Nepal.
There are three types of duties as implied by our constitution. They are: -
Moral Duties:
To lead a simple and honest life with the sense of respect and honors shown to others in the family, teachers, guest and strangers is a moral duty. Failure to discharge a moral duty may not bring legal actions but the bad impression from the society.
Legal Duties:
Legal duty means a duty done lawfully or as the laws require us to do. Stealing, burgling, swindling, teasing and injuring are prohibited under law. We should not indulge in all those things to fulfill a legal duty. Anyone failing to fulfill legal duties invites legal action against him/her.
Civil Duties can be divided into following types:
Service to nation:
The happiness and prosperity of the citizens come with the peace and development achieved by the country. So, it is the duty of all citizens to contribute in this or the manner to the peace and prosperity of their country. In democratic countries, we find the legislative, executive and judiciary working under a constitution for their progress and prosperity. The fruit of the country's peace and development is to be enjoyed by its citizens ultimately. So every citizen ought to try to serve the nation by the words or deeds.
Adherence to laws and rules:
It is the prime duty of citizens to obey the rules and laws of their country, as formulated by its legislative and regulated by its execution and judiciary. The rules and laws are made to ensure the general welfare of every citizen of the country. The laws give equal rights and protections to all.
Paying tax:
The government needs money to meet various expenses of administration and development. So it collects money from taxes and charges which are paid by the people of the country. Taxes are an important source of the government treasury. So, it becomes obligatory duty of citizens to pay taxes regularly in time.
Casting of votes:
All legitimate citizens have to cast votes in an election for choosing their representatives to the parliament and the local bodies. In Nepal citizens over 18 years of age can enjoy this right. But it is also their duty. By casting voted for honest and efficient candidates without getting tempted to by any undue interests, a citizen should fulfill his/her duty as a citizen. Misuse of voting rights may result in the rise of dishonest, inefficient and corrupt persons who ruin the nation.
Raising voice in favour of truth and justice:
It is everyone's duty to raise voice against the violation of one's fundamental rights, encroachment of territory at border, injustice made to oneself and others etc. Thus, it is the duty of citizens to contribute to the process of social reformation and promotion of public welfare.