Govt seeks RWA feedback on draft law

RWAs To Reply To Govt Questionnaire On Special Powers To Ward Committees

Naziya Alvi | TNN 

New Delhi: Residents will now be giving suggestions to the government on the yet-tobe drafted Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act which will soon replace the 1957 municipal Act. The Delhi government will send a questionnaire to 800-odd resident welfare associations (RWAs), seeking their views on ward committees, which is being finalized.

The questionnaire, which will be sent to RWAs within a week, is designed to get people’s feedback on the new concept. RWAs have three weeks to respond to the questionnaire.

The government will shortlist 50-60 replies and is likely to hold a three-day session with RWAs after the municipal elections.

“As RWAs have a stake in the efficient and responsive municipal government of Delhi, the committee desires to elicit their views on the changes needed in the new MCD Act,” the government letter states.

The questionnaire comprises 14 questions. Some of these are: Should ward committees have a separate budget and be assigned a part of the proceeds from taxes and fees collected from their areas? Should seats be reserved for women and Scheduled Caste members? Should all members be elected, or should there be a few nominated members too? If yes, who should be these nominated members? Do they need any special qualifications?

Suggestions will also be sought on how to include the poor living in slums and JJ colonies. “The idea is to find out how the new Act can provide greater decentralization of municipal governance and increased participation of citizens in decision-making. To this end, we are debating how best to form the ward committee and what functions be assigned to it,” said K Dharamrajan, chairman of the expert committee appointed to formulate the Act.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), all states have to establish ward committees. The wards may be divided into subwards depending on the size.

The Delhi government constituted a committee of experts to draft a new law that will replace the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957. According to Delhi government’s proposal, a ward committee is to be constituted for one or more wards in all municipalities with a population of more than three lakh. These committees will be headed by the councillor and will include RWA members and local officers of civic agencies.

The committees, when constituted, will meet every month to discuss local issues that are to be addressed on priority. The government is also considering the possibility of holding an annual general meeting of all registered voters of the area/sub-ward with the ward committee. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerela are some of the states that already have such committees.

WITH THANKS : TIMES OF INDIA : LINK for original view of the News.