URJA Newsletter dated 21st July, 2009: for distribution to all Delhi RWA Chiefs

Half Yearly Review of activities: After the Annual Convention of URJA organized in September 2008 at the Constitution Club, there have been a spate of activities by various RWA groups which have been overlooked due to two elections in quick succession. One of the issues that came up before us at the time of the Lok Sabha elections was what should the role of RWAs be in the duration to the run up to polls. This question showed deep divisions within most RWAs with a large number preferring to take an inert stand, and another view asking for more engagement of RWAs in the process. Our considered view remains that it is the duty of RWAs to become agents of electoral awareness in their areas and this awareness can take many routes – from election ID cards acquisition, to checking records of voter lists, enthusing people to vote, seeking details of candidates and their backgrounds, organizing debates between contending candidates, and every other step that bring candidates and the electoral process under greater scrutiny. The issue of RWA involvement in elections was settled long back when we insisted that the role of RWAs remains to bid for greater transparency in candidate selection and a drive for clean candidates. In the Municipal polls, we were able to achieve stunning success in terms of overall interest of middle class groups in the electoral process and the momentum towards better candidature. It may be noticed with great satisfaction that the movement towards better candidature today is due in many ways to your initiatives in the last few elections. Ditto for the increasing percentage of voting from middle class strongholds.

New URJA Website: Offer for RWAs to communicate on the internet: With the expansion of URJA it has become necessary to increase levels of communication between ourselves. Websites have become a very crucial communication mechanism and more and more people are now choosing to access information through the internet. We have therefore developed a new website for URJA where your RWA can also have its own web page where you can put up your executive member list, achievements, new programmes etc. We have secured an arrangement with a web design team to put up your desired information through a dedicated page on this site for Rs. 1000 only on an annual basis. You may know that this is a unique offer and we should all take advantage of it. A separate form is attached if you want to avail this offer: please send it back to us so your page can be booked.

People’s Action to raise awareness about Senior Citizen issues: People’s Action has initiated to promote a new project aimed at bringing issues of senior citizens to the forefront. In this activity, People’s Action has suggested that URJA and its member RWAs can play a very major role as most RWAs are anyway led by senior citizens and many RWAs also have senior citizen associations affiliated in each colony. In addition, the purpose of this collaboration is to also create Senior Citizen Associations as wings of existing RWAs. A separate sheet outlining the proposal is attached for you to peruse and send in your comments on how we can make this initiative more effective. You are also encouraged to initiate formation of Senior Citizen Associations Wings within your localities and as a part of your RWA to strengthen this movement.

ILO meeting with People’s Action: International Labour Organisation, a UN body, has recently contacted People’s Action with a view to ascertain views of RWAs on domestic workers. Consequently ILO has requested a meeting with a cross section of RWAs to record these views officially at a conference in the last week of July. The final dates will be communicated by email or phone, so if any of you are interested in being part of these deliberations, please contact Atul Goyal on 9868148896 or send us a letter to the effect immediately.

Plastic bag ban and its implications for RWAs: The recent ban on use of low grade plastics has been hailed by environmentalists and objected to by the plastic manufacturer’s lobby with equal vigour. While the lobby’s interest are very clear to understand, we also need to evaluate how we as RWAs can involve ourselves in the issue with a view to reducing pollution and contamination in our city. The first option is for RWA’s to conduct awareness drives within our localities through an organized programme that not only speaks about the dangers of plastic proliferation but also promoted sustainable alternatives. URJA senate members have been sensitized to such a programme and you are free to contact them if you want to carry out such a drive in your locality.

MCD: split or no split: What is in it for us: The recent controversy sparked off by the idea of splitting the MCD into three or making it subservient to the Delhi Government is misleading because it does not take into account the views of residents and RWAs. Our view has been the if the MCD has to be split, a three-part division makes no sense: in that case it should be divided in to seven portions one each for each Lok Sabha constituency so that some amount of accountability of the MP and the MLAs could also be established. On the aspect of it being subservient to the Delhi Government, we have no issues with it, but above all it should be subservient to the residents and the people who pay the taxes. Finally: it is a matter of concern that while the Delhi government is happy to have the MCD and the DDA under its belt, [clearly because both are money minting machines], it shows no such enthusiasm for taking law and order in its hands – and which is the number one issue for most residents.

Yamuna, BRT and Power issues: The three issues, which remain of concern to us as residents have been brought to our notice repeatedly. However, we find that a number of RWAs who are normally very active on these issues are feeling demoralized after the election sweep of the party in government and reading this as a mandate in favour of the government in Delhi. If that is the case, we must review our options and our direction, for we would be surrendering our point of view in face of another lobby. This issue needs to be debated vigorously: Is the election win of the Congress in Delhi people’s mandate of agreement with its policies. Your views are welcomed.

Formation of Resident Ward Committees [RWC] : Our efforts to push for the formation of RWCs in all wards have been stalled by the continuity of elections in the last six months. Now with the question mark over the MCDs status as a statutory body being called in to question, progress has been further stalled. However, it remains our view that any decision on the MCD must in the first place be taken by the Residents and so the formation of RWCs before any attempt at dissolution or trifurcation of MCD is necessary.

Confusion caused by a Media House and NGO on peoples partnership models: The recent campaign by a media house along with a prominent NGO who have started arguing shrilly for a new concept of people’s participation called Ward or Mohalla Sabhas is a direct attempt at curtailing the influence of RWAs. In our view the RWC format that you have already passed by consensus as resolution in the September RWA Convention is the most valid method of bringing transparency and accountability into the governance model. The RWC builds on the strengths of the RWA movement and the great strides it has taken in recent years. Ward or Mohalla Sabhas is an alien concept and it has neither any sanction nor viability in the structure of governance. The question to ask is : why is there a  need for an Area Sabha when there is an RWA already in the locality. You will see that this is yet another attempt to weaken and reduce the importance of RWAs in governance. This must be vehemently opposed.

GM Foods: Should we be concerned: RWA Seminar at Chelmsford Club on 8th August:  A huge controversy has erupted on the subject of Genetic Modification in food products which is gaining ground. While modern science brings with it benefits, it is also being seen as stepping into areas which many environmental groups believe they should not be tampering with – for instance, food. A consortium of environmental groups has approached People’s Action with a desire to meet with RWAs and debate this issue. Consequently Wing Commander J.S. Chadda is convening a seminar on this issue on 8th of August 2009 at the Chelmsford Club. Please see attached literature on the subject and please inform us if you would like to be part of this seminar on 9312626900.

Re-Formation of URJA Senate: Pursuant to our last communication where we have indicated the formalization of the URJA Senate, we have now decided to re-integrate the seven zones of URJA according to political geography. As mentioned earlier, our aim remains to act as a pressure group on the political representative and through them to the administrative level. By doing this we will finally have created a formal structure where RWAs can act in orchestrated fashion to impose their views on various issues as and when they come up. To execute this plan, we will therefore re-constitute the Senate members and their Area Coordinators accordingly. This work has been initiated and we expect that we will have the new team in place by the end of August. Another development that requires this new re-formation is the fact the Mr. Atul Goyal and Wing Commander J.S. Chadda have been co-opted to the Board of Executive Members of People’s Action. Consequently, and as mandated in the formation of the URJA senate, new members from their respective areas will have to be co-opted for their senate seats. Similarly, the three representatives of People’s Action on the URJA Senate will now be Ms Sonali Agrawal, Mr Atul Goyal and Wing Commander J.S. Chadda.

URJA Assembly Segment Committees and their expansion: As indicated in the last newsletter, the exercise started last year to confederate URJA wings according to assembly segments now makes even more sense with our decision to re-organise URJA zones on Parliamentary Constituency lines. Consequently, we will now renew the campaign for formation of assembly level committees with new vigour. Please let us have names of those that you may like to propose for such committees from your assembly segments and /or wards.

 

To join the URJA RWA email group, please send us mail at urja-delhi-rwas@googlegroups.com. Check the new URJA site on www.urja-delhi.in

For more information, pl. contact: Central Delhi : D.M. Narang 9811736019 or R.L. Dua 9212051444; West Delhi : Suresh Kapoor or S.S. Talwar 9811044891; East Delhi Anil Bajpayi 9871198104 or N.N. Mishra 9891649000;  South Delhi: Amit Agrawal 9868095009 or Amal Sharma 9899100778;  Rohini: D.C. Khanna 9810070550 or S.K. Arora 9868970238; North Delhi: Mr V.D. Parashar; 27192916 or R.K. Khanna  9818027006; Dwarka: Anil Nayal 9873016110 or Conrad Stevens 9873177228.

 

URJA Website Offer: get your own RWA Web Site

 

This is an offer for all URJA members to have their own internet presence and own a micro-site at a special introductory price of Rs. 1000/- all inclusive of design, up-dation during the year, maintenance, server space etc. This is an annual charge and can be renewed every year. All information will be supplied by RWAs themselves and could have some, or all of the following:

 

This offer for a micro-site starts with one web-page having the above mentioned information. RWAs are free to expand their web-sites as their information flow increases at mutually agreed terms with the Design team directly. A time frame of 2-3 weeks is considered normal in the development and deployment of such an assignment as above. However RWAs will be served on first come first serve basis and work will start as soon as the payment along with the requested information is provided.

Please reproduce the following form on your RWA letterhead and mail it to us with the requisite fee
For any clarification on this issue, please contact Ms. Sonali Agrawal on 9810934703

 

To
United Residents Joint Action
Campaign Office: 24, Feroze Gandhi Road
Lajpat Nagar-III, New Delhi-24
Fax : 011-29831976                                                                                                    Date: …………………..

Dear Sirs

Your are requested:

Mr/Ms : …………………………………………………..

Contact numbers :……………………………………….

Email :…………………………………………………….

For…………………………………………………………….
[Name of your RWA]