How can you overlook the RWAs of DELHI ?

Since last many years, RWAs are raising various Social & Civic issues, regularly, with the concerned authorities, and with great success. 

RWAs existed even before the term 'BHAGIDARI' came into existence and RWAs are still alive even after the collapse of Bhagidari.

But we can not understand the motive of the AAP Govt. that wants to sideline the RWAs of Delhi & want to introduce the Mohalla Sabha.

We hereby strongly object & lodge our protest with CM Arvind Kejriwal against Mohalla Sabha by overlooking the RWAs of Delhi.

Please join us to raise a collective voice.

B S Vohra

VOICE OF DELHI ( RWAs )

https://www.facebook.com/VoiceofDelhiRWAs

rwabhagidari@yahoo.in

Bill to Empower people skips public opinion; govt draws flak

Electricity Tribunal Dances to His Masters Tune ..... Public interest be Damned

IRONIC ..... UNDUE HASTE ....... STAKE HOLDERS IGNORED ..... OR IS IT APTEL OVERREACH .....the Appellate Tribunal has directed DERC not to cancel DISCOMs Licence. HOW COZY ..... and pray WHY DID THE ORDER COME ABOUT IN ONE HEARING FLAT ...... and a STAY GRANTED ..... how often have Social Activists seen that happen. The threats the DISCOMs and NTPC jugal bandi have given to Delhites is none of APTELs concern. When the elected Govt. choses to strike as per the Law on Public Demand ...... we have the full ORCHESTRA playing with APTEL, DERC, NTPC, DISCOMs putting up a command performance. WE THE CONSUMERS ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS and APTEL had to take our views too ....... we are not willing to be BLACKMAILED. What kind of Justice is this, Delhites pay their Bills and the Money collected does not reach the GENCOS then who is at fault ..... DERC in 2009 had taken a firm view then ..... and I was part of the Stake Holders who had then asked DERC to throw out the DISCOMs as they have no business defaulting and holding citizens to RANSOM. It is a part of record when we had demanded, hand the distribution to the ARMY for a while and look for a new set of DISCOMS through open Tenders. DERC had at that time imposed a penalty on the DISCOMS and they behaved for a few years. In 2011 they again defaulted and Shiela Dikshit rewarded them with a 550cr bailout package despite public outcry. THE ESTABLISHED LEGAL PROCEDURES ARE FAST BECOMMING A SHIELD FOR THOSE IN THE WRONG TO DELAY AND/OR FRUSTRATE EFFORTS TO GIVE RELIEF TO THE AGRIEVED. DERC and APTEL .... they both have disappointed citizens ..... AND YES DERC HAS NOT FULFILED ITS MANDATE .... had DERC been working for citizens and as per Mandate then by 2007 DELHI would have ended MONOPOLY of DISCOMS ..... and the threats we face today are a direct result of DERC members being Political Appointees. For once we have someone on our side, listening to us ..... but then its a Minority Govt. ..... does that count ..... :) Warm Regards, Rajiv Kakria

Is your housing society holding elections?

Is your housing society holding elections?

If not, here are your rights and the things you need to know to challenge the position held by members

SAKINA BABWANI 

    Girish Shah has been the general secretary of a housing society in Mumbai’s western suburbs for the past eight years. Though he has been managing the society’s affairs, there is a simmering discontent among the residents against him. “He has not conducted fresh elections in all this time,” says a resident. He adds that the entire managing committee has been appointed by Shah and they have been inventing fees and penalties that cannot be legally imposed. However, the housing society members have not taken any concrete action against the ‘powerful’ team. 

    Elections tend to be a bone of contention among members of several housing societies. “Often, an election is conducted just once and the same person continues to hold the position for years. Society members, too, are usually not concernedunless it causes personal inconvenience to them,” says Ravi Goenka, advocate, Goenka Law Associates. However, you have the right to elect the managing committee of your housing society every five years. If your society refuses to do so, you can lodge a formal complaint. 

What you can do In case of a dispute with another member or a grievance over certain practices adopted by the society, you should ideally lodge a complaint with the managing committee. The latter must respond within 15 days of receiving your complaint. If there is no response during this period, you can approach the deputy registrar’s office, which can issue a showcause notice to your society, asking it to explain its stand. After the hearing, if it is found that the members are holding positions without having contested the elections, the existing committee can be dissolved. In its place, the deputy registrar can appoint an administrative officer to run the affairs of the society till fresh elections are conducted. Another option available to you is to approach the cooperative court against your society or even the deputy registrar. You can also file a case with the civil court or lodge a criminal complaint of misrepresentation against such members. The district housing federations, which are established under the provisions of the Cooperative Housing Societies Act for the welfare of the housing societies, can also be approached. “However, for complaints regarding the elections, your best bet would be the deputy registrar as it is the fastest recourse available,” says housing society activist J B Patel. 

How should elections be held? Under the Cooperative Societies Act, a proper procedure has been laid down for conducting elections to appoint a managing committee. Ideally, one must start the process about two months before the end of the existing managing committee’s term. The latter is expected to compile a list of members who are eligible to vote, which needs to be put up on the notice board 60 days before the election. Thereafter, the committee must appoint a returning officer to oversee the election. The returning officer cannot be someone who is contesting the election or supporting a candidate. 

Changes in the pipeline There are some changes in the offing that will affect housing societies in Maharashtra. In November 2013, the state government announced that it would appoint an election authority to supervise elections in housing societies with more than 100 members. The government is expected to make the announcement by December 2014. “Till such an authority is constituted, you can't conduct elections in your society, even if they are due,” explains Patel.


with thanks : Times Of India : LINK

Scrapping RWAs ?????

Delhi Ke Dil Mein Kya Hai : AAJTAK : Comment on LG : B S Vohra

Link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkHm0SNbnKI&list=UUeYmG2G7RS6SlgNnLGVNSMQ&feature=c4-overview

Subsidy ki Rajneeti : B S Vohra : Rajya Sabha TV

Link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKwPbSXZ4p0&list=UUeYmG2G7RS6SlgNnLGVNSMQ&feature=c4-overview

Law Minister Kapil Sibal on 1984 riots : Headlines Today

LINK :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzlmNZOmP8Y&list=UUeYmG2G7RS6SlgNnLGVNSMQ&feature=c4-overview

We want the India on TOP...

Dear Vohra ji,

I totally and wholeheartedly agree with you. But who is responsible? We - all of us, collectively and individually for all the mess created ably assisted by our honoured politicians who are till concerned about the plight of aam aadmi but about themselves. We cannot root out all this and more menace unless all of us join hands unitedly and raise your voice unanimously and universally! But can we achieve this unanimity knowing well all this menace! However, we must try and root out the root cause for all this in a phased and planned manner over a period of time. 

Best of luck and blessings,

TK Balu

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Dear Mr Vohra,

 

Everyone has the right to desire the way you have. But how and who will do all these big things unless we prepare ourselves, a few pragmatic persons amongs us, with zest and zeal, with honest and clean meaningful means, to take over the present rotten, dishonest, and outdated politicians.

 

I with all my like-minded persons, are with you always. Pl go ahead ....

 

M M Lal Bhasin

President

Delhi Electricity Consumers Society 

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Dear Mr. Vohra,

Good thought. Let us pray for prevailing of good sense and good people to achieve the goal.

M. S. Goel

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We want the India on top……..

We want the India on TOP, not in pollution but in economy, in development, in achievements, in growth & in touching always new milestones.

We want the India on TOP, not in population, but in safeguarding the girl child, in avoiding child labour, in promoting child welfare, in quality education for all with equal opportunities.

We want the India on Top, not in corruption, but in honesty, in loyalty, in faithfulness, in togetherness, in common goals & successes.

We want the India on TOP, not in rapes, but in respect & dignity of women, in the safety of its residents, in the well being of the visitors from overseas.

We want the India on TOP, not in battlefield, but in promoting harmony, in friendship, in love, in affection for all, keeping aside the racism on the basis of cast, creed, colour, sex, religion or boundaries.

I know I have very vast desires or you can say, I want more, more & more. But if we start this journey, believe me the destination will be quite near & not as far off, as you might be thinking. 

Don't you think so ? 

Please revert !

B S Vohra

No budget, but circulars galore for tax payers

Levy of service tax on services provided by RWAs to members - Clarification

In one such instance, the tax department has made a clarification on the service tax chargeable on services provided by resident welfare associations (RWA). RWAs are civic bodies representing interests of residents of specific localities. The membership to the RWAs is voluntary. All resident welfare associations are registered under Co-operative Societies Act.

The services such as providing security to the residential locality are chargeable at 12 per cent service tax. According to the clarification, such a tax will not be levied if the contribution by member is below Rs 5,000 per month. However, if the contribution breaches the Rs 5,000-ceiling, the entire amount would be chargeable under the service tax.

This brings a huge relief for the RWAs and residents who have been struggling with tax demands from the department officials.

“This is indeed a welcome clarification. There was no clarity as to what happens when the Rs 5,000-limit breaches. The tax department has also clarified that even if the amount for services is paid in lumpsum, it will not be charged with service tax,” Bipin Sapra, tax partner, EY, said.

According to the clarificatory circular, “However, a monetary ceiling has been prescribed for this exemption, calculated in the form of Rs 5,000 per month, per member contribution to the RWA, for sourcing of goods or services from third person for the common use of its members. If per month, per member contribution of any or some members of a RWA exceeds Rs 5,000, the entire contribution of such members would be ineligible for the exemption.”

RWAs provide a host of services like maintenance of common areas, facilities including lift, water, health and fitness centre, swimming pool, payment of electricity bills for the common area and lift among other things.

Further, in cases where the RWAs act as pure agents and provide services to its members, like submitting electricity bill of a member to the discom, it will be exempt under the service tax. “Electricity has been one of the major issue as in many cases, RWAs have been acting as pure agent on behalf of residents,” Sapra said.

RWAs, it has now been clarified, will also be eligible for CENVAT credit for the service tax paid, which ultimately will trickle down to benefit taxpayers, Sapra added.

with thanks : Indian Express : LINK