Friday, February 14, 2014

Can Kejriwal's Muhalla Sabha Cure the Abysmal Governance and Delivery of Services in Delhi ?????

Dear Friends,

The Right thing MUST be done the Right Way or else it opens the door for unscrupulous people to use the same Precedence to Subvert Policy. In fact Kejriwal is doing what we in Civil Society had been protesting against during Sheila Dikshit Regime over the past 15 years. She too went about her way without caring to listen to Society or Opposition ...... SO WHAT HAS CHANGED.

Mohalla Sabha ...... aka SWARAJ ...... why is it needed ? We in Delhi are not suffering for Lack of Voice or Representation. Delhi suffers from the Multiplicity of Authority and the Thekedari concept of Governance wherein Archaic systems wherein a fixed Menu of Development, Repair and Maintenance is still followed, while the Needs and Lifestyles of Citizens have seen a sea change.

Kejriwal is putting the Cart before the Horse ..... Delhi does not need 5000 more representatives ..... just as Delhi got nothing from Shiela Dikshit doubling the number of Councillors from 135 to 270 .... other than Doubling the Public Expenditure in maintaining 135 extra Representatives ...... or for that matter Trifurcation of MCD was counter productive as it was done to satisfy Shiela's Ego and without Public Consultation.

Delhi does not need to restructure the Representation System, the RWAs have been successful in voicing all issues that need to be addressed. In fact Kajeriwal should Reflect that he came in and took up the issues that the RWAs had already brought to a Boil ..... may that be the issue of Power Tariffs, Water Privatisation, CWG/MCD Corruption, BRT, Security, Parking etc.

On 12-02-2014 RWAs from all over Delhi met in GK-II and deliberated on this issue. In one voice every speaker rejected the Mohalla Sabha concept. Some members even accused that this was an attempt to build a Cadre like it was done in West Bengal by the Communists. Others said that this move will edge out the Selfless Social Workers and encourage Professional Politicians and Power Brokers to usurp the RWA space ...... and many more arguments were put forth.

It was resolved that various RWAs, NGOs and civil society groups will come on a common platform and hold a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar on 14-02-2014 at 11:30 am. BE THERE.

FIRST THINGS FIRST ..... PUT GOVERNANCE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM ON TRACK ..... THEN MOHALLA SABHA ..... THAT TOO AFTER PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

Warm Regards,

Rajiv Kakria

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