Newsletter dated  5th July 2006 :  for distribution to all Delhi RWA Chiefs

Campaign to pay 50% less brings issue to highlight: The campaign started by members of URJA along with the support of people’s Action has brought the issue to light in a dramatic fashion. The DISCOMS have responded with nervousness and panic in some areas, such as East Delhi where BSES Yamuna personnel came along with Police to make people pay the 50% balance. Credit is due to Mr. N.N. Mishra of Mayur Vihar RWA who managed the entire episode brilliantly thanks to which the entire East Delhi URJA was able to put BYPL on the defensive for weeks afterwards. The Commissioner Police has also initiated an enquiry into how Police force was used for an ordinary function such as revenue collection.

Govt. under pressure to raise tariffs: Campaign hurts their plans: The DERC is reportedly under tremendous pressure form private DISCOMS and the Government to increase tariffs but the well timed campaign by URJA and People’s Action has put them on the back foot: how can you advise a 10% increase when the entire community is asking for a reduction of 50% tariff – that is the problem facing DERC today and the pressure built up on the Delhi Government by private players is being countered by us on the grounds that the state Government has allowed private companies to profit at the cost of the honest consumer.

Campaign to pay 50% continues; In order to force the Government to concede the illegality of overcharging honest consumers to pay for the theft of others, the campaign to pay 50% less will continue. RWAs of Satyawati Colony in Ashok Vihar have also joined the campaign initiating the campaign in North Delhi. Vishwas Nagar RWA which was the first to pass the resolution to pay 50% less has again decided to continue the campaign for the next bill cycle. Their method of protesting is unique: they have agreed to only send cheques of 50% less value. It is only when the BYPL sends a notice of disconnection do they pay up the full amount, maintaining a Gandhian, non-violent approach to their protest. Mr. S.N. Rohatgi and his RWA members deserve to be congratulated on their principled protest.

URJA and People’s Action Meetings with Chairman, DERC: URJA members from South Delhi and then East Delhi met with the entire Commission on two different days in quick succession to highlight the issue of theft and the refusal of residents to pay the theft subsidy. In addition, East Delhi URJA asked for the dismissal of BYPL form their area and the appointment of an Administrator in the interim. Both meetings were unscheduled, and the DERC had to pay attention to the issues we put up. To exhibit our strength, URJA organised meetings of three RWAs each day for 12 days running with the DERC and sent them notice of the same. The DERC, however, quickly asked to be excused since they claimed they had understood the issues involved.

Refund of amounts collected through the policy of defrauding honest consumers, Or…: RWAs must now start asking for refunds of the monies collected by DISCOMS through the regime of tariff increases to recover theft losses. It is not enough to be happy with no tariff increase this year. RWAs must not be satisfied with small change, while DISCOMS continue to make big bucks. Please start a campaign to demand a refund to the amounts collected by DISCOMS over the last four years through higher tariffs OR seek a reduction in tariff to commensurate levels immediately. This is the only option we must be prepared to discuss with the Government on the issue. Nothing less.

Delhi Government won’t order an enquiry into the DVB deal: It will take more than the RWAs to make a change : We have noticed that while we have spent exactly a year fighting for our rights and had considerable success in terms of a roll-back last year, and putting pressure to reduce theft and improve efficiencies, the State Government is hell-bent on continuing with DISCOMS that have fleeced us for the last four years. Our concern is the incredible amount of irregularities in the DVB privatisation deal that have continuously come to light. To expose this, and to force the Centre to order an enquiry into the entire privatisation scam we will need more than just our own group fighting for it. It is time to enlarge the movement: get other groups, associations, industry and other personalities along with NGOs and other watchdog societies into a common platform to fight this case of corruption.

Rajendra Nagar, Karol Bagh, Kailash Colony and GK join the protest: Members from each of these RWAs have issued letters warning DISCOMS in their areas that residents will deduct 50% off their bills from the next cycle as a mark of protest against the policy of making honest consumers pay for the dishonesty of others. Arvind Mehta of Rajendra Nagar Double Storey RWA has denounced the policy of the delhi Government as a “stab in the back of people who are struggling to pay the bills against all odds since the time DVB was privatised”. In Greater Kailash residents have written independently to the DISCOMS informing them of their intent to join the protest.

Greater Kailash-I has a new Committee: GKRA elections have thrown up a new committee of members led by President Ashok Sethi. We welcome Mr. Sethi and his team on behalf of all members of URJA and People’s Action. We are sure that this team will exemplify citizen activism in the months to come and serve as a template of judicious engagement with governance issues.

Position taken by the CM in the demolitions issue: RWAs, particularly those that had kept high expectation of the CM’s Bhagidari scheme, were terribly dismayed when the CM made a personal representation to the Prime Minister to seek the bill for obstructing the Supreme Court’s order on sealings and demolitions. RWAs who had campaigned vigorously against illegal constructions in residential areas could not explain how the CM could go against the very RWAs that had supported her in the past. Our feeling is that, this is a classic example of political expediency: it works in our favour only as long as it is of advantage to them. If it hurts them politically, they will not care for us.

Attack on Vishwas Nagar RWA functionaries: Vishwas Nagar RWA Gen. Secretary Mr. S.N. Rohatgi was attacked bodily by people reported to be in league with the local councillor of the area. Mr. Rohatgi and his RWA members have been fighting against illegal industries operating in their area and it seems that the local councillor was directly affected by this campaign. Without getting into details, URJA and members of People’s Action called an emergent Press Conference in East Delhi and initiated a series of steps to ensure that this act did not go unpunished.  We must not accept this behaviour under any circumstances and come to each others’ aid whenever such an incident occurs. We have promised the support of all URJA members to the Vishwas Nagar RWA in their struggle.

Inderpuri RWA rejects existing political representation: Inderpuri RWA led by Mr. Ramphal have decided to reject all political party representatives in the coming municipal elections owing to their poor performance on every issue of concern to residents, be it the electricity issue, water or demolitions. “ We have no faith in the current crop of councillors who are nothing more than profiteers,” said Mr. Ramphal. “We have decided that come what may, we will select our own candidate in the next elections,” he added indicating that their emphasis will be on clean and sincere candidates from the middle class. Mr. Ramphal has indicated that he is carrying out a survey among other RWAs in Delhi and is surprised at the positive response he is getting.

One Year of People’s Action campaign in Delhi: All-Delhi RWA Annual Convention on Friday 14th July: IIC Auditorium: To celebrate exactly one year of our activism in Delhi [ the entire campaign started on the 14th of July last year with the All-Delhi RWA Convention] and discuss the current situation on power, and other pressing issues and to seek a mandate to press forward on such issues, People’s Action has organised The Annual All-Delhi RWA Convention. To address important issues and to take decisions as well as take stock of the last one years work, a full-day session has been planned with a programme list attached separately on the invite. You must make it a point to attend the Convention where we expect to take critical decisions regarding our movement, and future course of action. NGOs, activists, and other activist groups have also been invited to participate in group discussions. Roshan Seth, Joginder Singh and other prominent personalities are also being invited to attend the sessions. Prominent political leaders from the main parties in Delhi are also likely to attend. Pl. see the attached Invite and Programme for details. Please ensure that your RWA participates. Key decisions are expected to be taken at this Convention.