Resident welfare association

A resident welfare association (frequently abbreviated as RWA) is a Non-governmental organization that represents the interests of the residents of a specific urban or suburban locality, particularly in Indian cities.[1]

Membership

Membership is voluntary, and the leadership is usually elected by fee-paying members. Members who do not pay the voluntary subscription fee in any year may not vote in the general body and other meetings of the association since they would be deemed to have opted out of membership in the voluntary association. Such associations cannot force residents to become members and pay annual or other fees, but they can suspend services to non-paying members. In some localities, such associations may bear the word "Development" in their nomenclature, such as development and welfare associations.[2]

Registration

RWAs are not official organs of government, and even slums and illegal housing localities in India can form RWAs to represent citizen interests.[3] RWAs are typically registered under co-operative society acts, which require groups to have a minimum of fifteen members from a given area, or under the Apartment Owners Act of the state as "association of apartment owners", or under the Societies Registration Act (central Act or state Act), which requires a minimum of ten members. These acts also set the rules for the establishment of RWA bye-laws, which include such things as membership criteria, voting rights, and the conditions under which RWA officers can initiate legal proceedings on behalf of the registered society.[4] Despite the prevalence of RWAs in slums and unauthorized colonies, however, government programs aimed at involving RWAs in strategic governance decisions, such as Delhi's Bhagidari Scheme, include only RWAs based on planned neighborhoods.[5] RWAs have become increasingly involved in municipal politics and decision-making since the early 2000s and continue to grow in importance.[6]

See also

References
  1. Usha Jumani (2006), Empowering Society: An Analysis of Business, Government and Social Development Approaches to Empowerment, Foundation Books, ISBN 978-81-7596-317-7, Snippet: ... In this programme the Delhi government enters into a partnership with interested Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) in housing colonies to solve urban infrastructure related problems ...
  2. Rakshat Hooja (2006-07-21), Survey of 5 RWAs in Delhi, archived from the original on 2011-06-10, retrieved 2008-11-12, Snippet: ... This is 22 year old RWA where membership charges are Rs 800 per annum. Members of the RWA among the sample – 100%. Percentage satisfied with the civic amenities in the colony/residential area – 100%. Percentage satisfied with the electric supply in the colony/residential area– 87.5%. Percentage satisfied with the water supply in the colony/residential area – 100%. Percentage satisfied with security in the colony/residential area – 42.8%. Percentage that vote in the RWA elections – 100% ...
  3. "Maken meets RWA officials of illegal colonies", The Hindu, 2007-08-20, archived from the original on 2007-11-16, retrieved 2008-11-12, Snippet: ... Union Urban Development Minister Ajay Maken has said that the development of unauthorised colonies was a vital step in Delhi's quest of being viewed as a global city. Addressing a gathering of residents' welfare association functionaries from the 1500-odd unauthorised colonies in the city here on Sunday, Mr. Maken said unauthorised colonies were a "part and parcel of the economic growth of the region". ...
  4. Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Government of Delhi (2003), The Delhi Co-operative Societies Act, 2003, retrieved 2013-05-01, Snippet: An Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to co-operative societies, to facilitate the voluntary formation and democratic functioning of co¬operatives as people's institutions based on self help and mutual aid to enable them to promote their economic and social betterment and to provide for better regulation, management, functional autonomy of such societies and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
  5. D. Asher Ghertner (2011), "Gentrifying the State, Gentrifying Participation: Elite Governance Programs in Delhi", International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 35 (3): 504–532, doi:10.1111/j.1468-2427.2011.01043.x, Snippet: ... The Bhagidari Cell quickly defined three primary 'stakeholders' considered worthy Bhagidars [participants]: market/trader and industrial associations, bureaucrats across the municipal, state and central government departments operating in Delhi, and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) based in DDA-approved residential colonies, membership of which is open only to property owners. This meant that residents of slums and unauthorized colonies (as well as renters across the city) were excluded from this 'citizen–government partnership'... From the beginning, then, Bhagidari was designed as an instrument to incorporate the voices of private property owners into urban governance...
  6. Stephanie Lama-Rewal (2007), "Neighbourhood Associations and Local Democracy: Delhi Municipal Elections 2007", Economic and Political Weekly XLII, retrieved 2013-01-12, Snippet: Democratisation of local bodies has been hindered because of the nature of neighbourhood associations. However, neighbourhood associations are themselves being democratised and are therefore bound to strengthen local democracy...
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