Empowering citizens through Citizen-LAD fund There is a Councillor-LAD fund, MLA-LAD fund and MP-LAD fund. Aam Admi Party wishes to empower the people of Delhi by creating a Citizen-LAD fund which shall be used through RWAs. Whereas RWAs have played an extremely important role in improving Delhi in the last decade, however, we also have to agree that not all RWAs are genuine. As a first step, we need to identify the genuine RWAs. Which is a genuine RWA? Can we agree on the following: 1. There should be only one RWA in that locality. 2. It should be registered. 3. It should have free and fair elections at regular intervals as per their constitution. 4. As a part of this exercise, we may prescribe that the RWA will have a GBM of all members on a fixed day and time every month. All important decisions shall be taken in the GBM by the residents. RWA shall be responsible for subsequently implementing those decisions. 5. The accounts of RWA shall be transparent and available for public inspection. They shall be annually audited and presented to the GBM. There shall be social audit of accounts at regular intervals. Such RWAs shall be officially recognized by the government. Other RWAs would be given a chance to improve their functioning and bring it in line with the above principles, so that they could also be recognized. Next step would be to empower RWAs with funds and powers. An amount, at least equal to MLA LAD fund per constituency, would be set aside for this purpose and would be called Citizen-LAD Fund. This would be allocated amongst all RWAs falling within that constituency on the basis of certain criteria like the no of households in that RWA etc. This amount shall be transferred to respective RWA. GBM would decide (if necessary, through voting) priority list of works to be done from that fund. Payment would be made to the contractor only when GBM expresses satisfaction in next meeting. What are those functions which an RWA could undertake through this fund? Government will issue general guidelines. Within those guidelines, a GBM may use this fund for any work. Government would not interfere in the decisions of GBM. Government’s job would be limited to ensuring that decisions are taken in GBM, government’s guidelines followed and accounts are transparent and properly audited. What are the benefits of this scheme? • Today, it is seen that the public keeps pleading before officers, MLAs, councilors and MPs for very petty works like road repairs, parks, street lights, CCTV cameras etc. Now public will not have to run around officers and elected representatives. In the above scheme, the people will attend their GBM and get their work done. • Speedy implementation - Since these works will not have to go through government bureaucracy, their implementation would be instant. • Implementation at much lower cost- Since people will directly keep an eye on their works and accounts would be transparent, corruption would be practically impossible. People will get work done at a cost much lower than what government agencies spend. This is the beginning of direct people’s empowerment. Those RWAs, which would work to the satisfaction of its residents and comply with government’s guidelines, would be further empowered in future in terms of funds, functions and functionaries. Can we make housing complexes self dependent or independent on certain issues using technology? Today, technology is available to handle water, electricity, sewer, garbage maintenance etc at local level. For instance, it is possible for a housing complex to treat its sewer in-house without having to depend upon city sewer system. Government would explore such technologies, prescribe those which are tested and proven elsewhere and encourage RWAs to adopt them. Those RWAs which adopt such technologies would be imparted training and helped with necessary funds. The residents of such RWAs will get tax incentives.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 09:58:33 +0000
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