NEW DELHI: Interacting with the city’s residents’ welfare associations on Thursday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that these bodies would be “empowered” with more financial powers and a greater say in the execution of development projects in their areas if AAP came to power in the MCD. The civic elections are scheduled for December 4.
Kejriwal was interacting with the RWAs in south Delhi’s Panchshila Club two days after announcing that they would be accorded the status of “mini councillors”.
“We want to create a system by which a basic minimum amount of funds can be given to RWAs. This will facilitate all minor works at the local level,” the CM said. “A person who is elected the councillor will be in charge of taking all the RWAs along. We want to create a system in which the decisions taken at the RWA level are binding on the state government.”
He said there could be an upper limit to the usable funds, and for projects within such a limit, RWAs could initiate and complete the work without requiring the permission of MCD. “We can create a system by which the projects are monitored. The details of the project and its status could be checked online by the chief minister, minister, MLA, municipal councillor and the department secretary,” Kejriwal suggested. Kejriwal also sought suggestions from RWAs on the matter.
Most RWA representatives claimed that since colony residents often did not pay the monthly fees, it was financially difficult to manage the affairs of these citizens’ bodies. They requested financial assistance from the state government.
Shobhana Khanna, RWA representative from Kalkaji Extension Block 8, suggested, “There are mosquitoes everywhere. I appeal to you to empower RWAs to be able to carry out fumigation themselves.” The CM responded, “We can have neighbouring 4-5 RWAs tie up for a fumigation machine to be given by MCD for fumigation at the local level.”
Rajeev Kakaria, representing E Block, GK I, said, “RWAs should be recognised under the Societies Registration Act. Right now, any five people can set up a society and be recognised as an RWA.”
Rajesh Pawar, chairman, Vasant Kunj RWA, said, “Our biggest expenditure is on security guards. We should have arrangements instead like Civil Defence volunteers. Funds should also be given to RWAs for organising Holi and Diwali festivities. We also need PortaCabins with furniture, computers and offices to run RWAs.”
The CM said that he was working on the matter of providing money for festivals. He said the cabins for RWAs could be built with MLA local area development funds.
Kejriwal added, “The resources, particularly funds, that any government has is limited. What matters is to know how to utilise them the best. We often see MCD repairing the colony footpaths three times a year. Yet when we go to the corporation to get some other important works done, they tell us that they do not have the funds for such work. So clearly, the issue is not about limited funds. It is about the funds not being utilised optimally.”
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