Announcing More powers to the RWAs

There Are Lots of Pitfalls in These New Populist Announcements by the Delhi CM!

Samvada News Bureau

The Delhi Chief Minister has reiterated his vision of decentralisation of powers and to strengthen the RWAs, both financially and authoritatively, so that issues per taining to the respective localities can be resolved at the RWA level, negating the need to chase govt. machinery. Admittedly, the blue print of the scheme is yet to be finalised but it seems a step in the right direction and can help immensely if implemented in the spirit of his vision.

However, Samvada editor Vichitra (Maharanibagh) writes:
Well there is demography at play in all this.

In 800/ 1000 sq yards there around 30 voters in resettlement areas and slum clusters as compared to 2/4 in our neighbourhoods.

An elected representative (a tall Sikh gentleman- forget his name) told some of us that those people were his priority, only if time and resources permitting he will address our issues. So the outlook is to focus on the lowest common denominator.

Also, in a ruling sometime back the Supreme Court had ruled that the RWA can’t take on the role of the Executive as per the Constitution of the country. The legal experts will be better placed to comment on this.

The ruling was given pertaining to some Dwarka RWAs who had adopted some draconian measures around the Covid times unilaterally without getting buy-in from the elderly and other vulnerable groups.

Also see the case of Sarpanchs at the village- level, those in power mostly help their cronies, or themselves, excluding, the fringe dwellers.

There are lots of pitfalls in these new populist announcements by the CM!