VVWA is Only a Welfare Body & Not a Legal Entity to Impose Non Democratic Rules on Residents
Samvada News Bureau
At a meeting of the VVWA MC on Sat, 15 Oct, a detailed review of its WhatsApp groups was held. It has decided to impose fresh rules regarding formation of whatsapp groups and put
strictures on members using the groups.
The background to all this is that there are several individual whatsapp groups in the colony. People write and discuss a lot within their group about various happenings in the colony and also what’s happening elsewhere around the colony. They also write about what matters should be taken up by VVWA and Society on urgent basis and what matters can wait. This is perhaps not to the liking of VVWA and Society and therefore the community remains at logger head.
Executive committee members of both the institutions are not happy about the negatives being discussed about their working. To strangle the freedom of speech of the residents they have come up with the idea of imposing undemocratic rules on their use.
One of the most disturbing rules is: “It is made clear that that no member will be allowed to berate any other member or write any hate messages. In case anyone violate this that person will be immediately deleted from the group”.
Residents are up in arms against this diktat.
Mrs Khosla wrote: Please clarify what constitutes berate? Constructive opposing points of view should not be misconstrued as berating while retaining decorum on both sides…group members and admn.
What VVWA has not clarified is how they would rate a post berate or abusive. Any message of dissent can be regarded as berate just because the association considers it so.
Another resident wrote: The advisory issued by VVWA raises few questions:
- Can VVWA impose restrictions on the residents on the formation of groups and express their opinion within the group so long their Expression is within permissible conditions laid down by watsapp authorities.
- Is it not that exchange of views is good for the colony. In fact it should be encouraged for inclusiveness and active participation by the residents in the colony affairs and finding solutions for the betterment of the colony.
- VVWA cannot suppress the voice of people by imposing restrictions on them on their free expression in alignment with democratic working.
Result: Community keeps suffering.
