After Mohalla Sabha row, AAP woos RWAs

AAP will ensure the RWAs and citizens have the power to decide how to spend the funds allocated to the councillor of their ward and on which work.

a shift from its ideas of Swaraj Fund and mohalla sabhas, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in this municipal election is going all out to woo the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).

The party in its manifesto, released on Wednesday, promised to empower the RWAs. “People will decide about the work to be undertaken in their area. AAP will ensure that the RWAs and citizens have the power to decide how to spend the funds allocated to the councillor of their ward and on which development work. Funds will be sanctioned and spent only after the people approve of it,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

Ever since the party formed the government in Delhi, the RWAs felt a growing sense of alienation as they rued of never being consulted for its flagship projects such as mohalla sabhas. Most RWAs HT spoke to, said the idea was not inclusive and that it threatened their existence in housing societies. They alleged that the government wants to create bodies with their own people in every locality.

To quash some of these inhibitions of RWAs, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia organised a summit for RWAs. “I got into politics through RWA only. I used to be the general secretary of a RWA in Ghaziabad’s Vasundhara area where I used to stay earlier. That’s how I got a taste of politics,” he said.

“So, if we win the MCD polls, RWAs are going to have a lot of power to decide. We would regularly take feedback from you all,” he said.

Welcoming the move Naresh Yadav, general secretary of RWA Sector 19, Vasant Kunj said, “We are hopeful this time. Sisodia ji has promised to make a policy where RWAs could legally participate in developmental works.”

The BJP has promised to meet with the RWAs every month while the Congress has said it would revive Bhagidari scheme and empower RWAs to levy surface parking charges.