Newsletter dated 15th February 2007 : for distribution to all Delhi RWA Chiefs
First Political Convention of Delhi RWAs on 23rd January: A historical meeting of RWAs was held at the IIC under the auspices of People’s Action in association with URJA, where a packed hall of over 250 RWA heads sat through an energising afternoon of critical decisions. RWAs voted overwhelmingly for participating in the forthcoming municipal elections and presented their views on the issue with huge enthusiasm.
Main points of the Convention: The meeting began with a welcome note by Col [Retd] D.K. Shandilya, Gen. Secretary of People’s Action with a follow up welcome by zonal coordiantors of URJA. Mr Pwan Jain, Executive Member People’s Action led the agenda note while Ms Meera Mitra of New Delhi People’s Alliance [NDPA] followed up with a perspective of what the country was expecting of this meeting. Mr Sanjay Kaul, President, People’s Action, moderated the question hour and laid out the procedure for RWAs to participate in the municipal elections. The main points of the presentation were: That smaller constituencies has empowered RWAs; That a historical opportunity has presented itself to us; That we must become participants in the electoral process; That a two-pronged strategy is required to clean up politics and get good governance: namely
Mr Kaul argued against candidates standing independently, saying that RWAs must get together in wards and create Ward Committees to select good candidates or else people will suspect that candidates have been put up by opposing political parties [like they usually do to cut opponent’s votes]. Mr Kaul also argued that we should first offer such candidates to the main political parties for tickets as that would increase their chances of winning. However, if they refuse to do so, the candidate should stand as a civil society candidate and we will all support him or her in every possible manner.
Mr Kaul said that there would be criticism of this proposal from only two quarters: one, from groups that are already aligned with political parties or politicians [who would not want any competition for their ‘masters’.] The other group would be people who want to foist their own candidates on the community and will insist on putting up candidates without following the procedure. RWAs must be wary of both groups and keep themselves completely independent of both.
Procedure of participation of RWAs: A document outlining the steps to be taken by RWAs for participating has been developed and is attached for your specific use. A special secretariat is begin created to assist RWAs that want to go ahead with this proposal and a special Hotline number 9811400644 has been provided for anyone seeking more information on details of the procedure. Please feel free to call and discuss the issue at length.
Grievance cell by Power Ministry: In a belated attempt to woo consumers before election, the CM inaugurated a electricity grievance cell amidst uproarious scenes. Disappointingly, the CM made a very unfortunate statement on the occasion when consumers got agitated: the CM is reported to have said to the audience in Hindi that “First you steal electricity and then create a hullabaloo” This news was reported by Rashtriya Sahara and needless to say was severely criticised by many residents as an insult, who went there to get relief.
Master Plan 2021: The issue of MPD 2021 has now been taken up actively by the NDPA, which has since started a campaign against the implementation of the Master Plan in its present form. Meetings with various groups opposed to the MPD2021 have since been held and support for the campaign is pouring in from many activists like Rajendra Singh, Magasaysay awardee and Kuldip Nayar, noted senior journalist.
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