To push its Mohalla Sabha initiative which enables locals to have a say on what civic projects are undertaken in their areas, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed Head of Departments (HoDs) on Wednesday to appoint nodal officers for each Mohalla Sabha in all 70 Assembly constituencies across Delhi.
With mapping complete, each of these Sabhas will cover 4,500 population and four polling booths on an average. The move assumes significance in the run-up to the 2017 municipal polls as it may help increase the party’s presence in the 272 wards.
The Arvind Kejriwal Government had allocated Rs 350 crore in the 2016-17 Budget under the Swaraj Nidhi Yojna. The 2,969 Mohalla Sabhas created by the AAP Government across Delhi will be empowered to decide on the developmental works in their respective areas.
last year, the Government had organised such Sabhas in 11 Assembly constituencies on an experimental basis, allocating Rs 20 crore for each constituency to execute civic projects.
“All departments should appoint a nodal officer for such Mohalla Sabha development works. This time the scheme has been modified on the basis of last year experiences,” Deputy Chief Minister has reportedly told officers present in the meeting. Also, officials informed Sisodia in the meeting that boundary of the each Mohalla Sabha has been finalised and departments have been asked to mark their assets and send lists to administrative department of the Government. A notification to this effect would be issued soon.
Through these Sabhas, the people will make suggestions to the Government as to what projects should be taken up in their localities keeping in mind the requirements. Only those registered as voters at the polling centres where Mohalla Sabhas are held can take part in the exercise. MlAs will also contribute from their fund of Rs 4 crore to implement the decisions taken at these public meetings.
Each Mohalla Sabha will hold meetings every two months and will have a team of coordinators. Moreover, each Mohalla Sabha will be given a time-frame of about six months to initiate the process of the election of a committee comprising community representatives.
Officials said the Government is clear that Mohalla Sabha will not interfere with the existing constitutional layers of governance of the Centre, the State and municipalities, the fact remains that a fresh layer of administration will be added to the Capital’s profile.
Delhi has different kinds of areas like JJ cluster, unauthorised colonies, rural villages, urban villages, planned colonies and group housing societies. The needs of the residents vary from area to area.