3. MOHALLA SABHAS

3.

 MOHALLA SABHAS

When a crime is committed by a powerful person in the society, he gets away by giving bribe to the police. The victim keeps going to the police station to file complaint against the culprit. But the police give some reason or the other to delay the filing of the complaint. Even if the complaint is filed, the investigations are not done. Even if the FIR is filed and case is heard in the court, the culprit escapes due to lack of evidence. The victim never gets justice. Instead of getting justice, the accuser has to face harassment by the police. Sometimes fake cases are filed against the accuser so that he will take back his case. This happens because the police force is often under the control of the corrupt politicians and bearcats.

It is Kejriwal’s dream to have Swaraj. Every voter will have power in his hand and he will be the decision-maker. This will happen through mohalla sabhas. Each municipal ward is divided into 10 parts called the mohallas. The people living in each mohalla will vote and elect one man and one women to head the mohalla sabha. There will be a mohalla secretariat to which the govt. will send funds to be used for the welfare of the people living in the area.

Police should be accountable to the common man and not to the politicians. mohalla sabhas must have the power to call the police and demand them to file a complaint against the culprit. If there are many complaints against any police officer, mohalla sabha must have the power to suspend him or terminate his services.

It will be the job of the mohalla sabhas to look after the unemployed people in their area. They must see that these people get good jobs. The govt. must provide enough power and resources for this.

The power to recall can be used to remove the leader or selected representative of the mohalla sabha if he is found to be inefficient or corrupt. Another election will be held to elect the leader.

Elections will be held every 5 years in the mohalla sabha. Meetings will be held every two month to discuss various issues. Voting will be done to finalize a decision. 33% of the voters will be women.

The mohalla sabhas will look after the education and health of the people living in their mohalla. Various schemes will be implemented to eradicate hunger and homelessness. Special attention will be given to the welfare of senior citizens, disabled, women and other vulnerable sections of the society.

Like the gram sabhas, mohalla sabhas will control all government development work and institutions, including monitoring and finances. This includes public distribution system (PDS), birth and death certificates, school and primary health centers, government scheme beneficiaries, park, streetlights, roads and even liquor shops. Fund will be allotted by the government to the mohalla sabha for the various activities.

The Sabhas have the power to get any information from any official of the State government regarding issues directly or indirectly related to their mohalla. They will have to power to authorize any kind of expenditure for the welfare of the people on subjects within their jurisdiction.

The mohalla sabhas would be authorized to cancel the license of PDS distributors and give new license. The mohalla sabha will take decision regarding opening or shutting down of liquor shops in their locality.

Bulk sewage meters will be installed in each locality to get data on amount of sewage generated. A number of decentralized sewage treatment plants will be planned. Mohalla sabhas will be in charge of waste management and cleaning of their localities.

Littering and disposal of construction debris in public places will be heavily fined. Ban on plastic bags will be implemented seriously. Bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste will be segregated at each and every home.

PDS (Public Distribution System) is a way to protect the common man from rising prices. But there is a lot of corruption in this system. The basic commodities do not reach the whole sale shops. Mohalla sabhas should monitor the PDS to stop corruption. Pulses and oils will be included in the PDS.

Delhi Ridge is the lungs of the city. They would be protected from encroachment and deforestation. Afforestation will be done in all parts of Delhi under the supervision of the mohalla sabha.

WORK DONE IN DELHI REGARDING MOHALLA SABHAS:

When Kejriwal was the CM of Delhi, he held three mohalla sabhas and listened to the problems of the people. He also looked to it that their problems were solved.

            Kejriwal conducted public meeting in Valmiki Sadan on Mandir Marg, DIZ area and Peshwa Road. 

In Feb 2014, Kejriwal formed the draft of Swaraj Bill which gives wide ranging powers to the mohalla sabhas. The mohalla sabhas can form their own rules for proper functioning and the welfare of the people. The bill gave legal protection to the officers of the mohalla sabhas.

The bill mentioned 69 duties of the mohalla sabhas which included cleaning of public roads to public vaccination, inoculation, issuing of solvency certificates, preserving heritage and promoting compassion towards animals.

If a case is sent to the police by a mohalla sabha, they must file FIR. If any arrest is made by the police in the case, copies of the FIR must be sent to the Mohalla Sewa Kendra within two days, except in cases where identity of the victim needs to be kept confidential.

The bill also gives the mohalla sabha the power to recall a ward councilor and the mohalla sabha representative.

The bill requires each municipal corporation and every department of Delhi government to identify officers and employees who provide services under the jurisdiction of a mohalla. The mohalla sabha will also take part in the formation of State budget.