It is defined in the constitution that Gram sabha is the common assembly of people living in a village. In spite of the fact that constitution recognizes the gram sabha yet the sabha has been vested with no power. Under self governance we believe that Government funds, government servants, government laws, actions that go towards making laws and natural resources should come under the control of people through the gram sabhas. Unfortunately any social set up of people living in the cities has no constitutional recognition or legal legitimacy. For this separate law will have to be drafted.
Experiment in Delhi:
This is true that Resident welfare Associations (RWA) has not been legally recognized but at many a places people have taken initiative and formed associations. It would be worthwhile to high light the
initiative in Delhi. For a long time in certain areas of East Delhi, under the initiation of SWARAJ movement, local assemblies are being organized. The people are taking decisions in local matters of the government. Government officials and political leaders are getting those works implemented. This commendable work is being carried out in Trilokpuri and Sundarnagri ward of NDMC. Each ward has been divided in ten localities. Each locality meets once in one or two months.
In these assemblies of people, under the aegis of self governance movement, officials of Municipal Corporations and representative of people join hands in the proceedings. How and where the money of corporation is to be spent is decided by the assembly of the people. Before this all these decisions were taken by few government officers and political leaders in “closed rooms”. But today the situation is such that any member of the assembly can raise his voice against problems related to water, electricity, roads, etc.
His demand is noted by the government officers and councilors, present in the meeting, who get the funds released for the same. In case the list of demands is long and adequate funds are not available then in the same meetings the priority of works is decided by the votes of the people, on the basis of which the work would be carried out.
The councilors of Sundarnagari and Trilokpuri have already announced that the payment against the work carried out in their area would be made to the contractors only when local body expresses its satisfaction with the quality of work. This decision has improved the quality of work carried out in their areas. There are various social welfare schemes like pension for the old, physically challenged individuals and pension for widows. List for such residents is made in an open assembly.
People are transparent and discuss among themselves as to who is the poorest and who should get benefit of these schemes first. Earlier this benefit used to accrue to near dears of the councilors. The governor of Delhi has congratulated the councilors who were conducting these types of meetings. He directed the local police officers to be present in such meetings. He also directed the commissioner of corporation to conduct such meetings in all areas of Delhi.
Experiment in Delhi:
This is true that Resident welfare Associations (RWA) has not been legally recognized but at many a places people have taken initiative and formed associations. It would be worthwhile to high light the
initiative in Delhi. For a long time in certain areas of East Delhi, under the initiation of SWARAJ movement, local assemblies are being organized. The people are taking decisions in local matters of the government. Government officials and political leaders are getting those works implemented. This commendable work is being carried out in Trilokpuri and Sundarnagri ward of NDMC. Each ward has been divided in ten localities. Each locality meets once in one or two months.
In these assemblies of people, under the aegis of self governance movement, officials of Municipal Corporations and representative of people join hands in the proceedings. How and where the money of corporation is to be spent is decided by the assembly of the people. Before this all these decisions were taken by few government officers and political leaders in “closed rooms”. But today the situation is such that any member of the assembly can raise his voice against problems related to water, electricity, roads, etc.
His demand is noted by the government officers and councilors, present in the meeting, who get the funds released for the same. In case the list of demands is long and adequate funds are not available then in the same meetings the priority of works is decided by the votes of the people, on the basis of which the work would be carried out.
The councilors of Sundarnagari and Trilokpuri have already announced that the payment against the work carried out in their area would be made to the contractors only when local body expresses its satisfaction with the quality of work. This decision has improved the quality of work carried out in their areas. There are various social welfare schemes like pension for the old, physically challenged individuals and pension for widows. List for such residents is made in an open assembly.
People are transparent and discuss among themselves as to who is the poorest and who should get benefit of these schemes first. Earlier this benefit used to accrue to near dears of the councilors. The governor of Delhi has congratulated the councilors who were conducting these types of meetings. He directed the local police officers to be present in such meetings. He also directed the commissioner of corporation to conduct such meetings in all areas of Delhi.
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