Urban

Download Model Nagararaj Bill

Each municipal ward should be divided into small mohallas of population of roughly 3000 each. The assembly of all voters in a mohalla will be called mohalla sabha. One representative of each mohalla sabha will be elected through elections conducted by state election commission. All mohalla sabha representatives in a ward will constitute ward committee. The ward councillor will be chairperson of that ward committee. Mohalla sabha will manage affairs of a mohalla and ward committee, in consultation with all mohalla sabha in that ward, will manage ward affairs.

• Boundaries of Mohalla Sabhas would be carved out in consultation with the people.
• Mohalla sabha will have the power to recall mohalla sabha representative and councillor.
• Mohalla sabha and ward committee will have independent sources of revenues– they would have powers on some subjects to levy and collect taxes from their mohalla/ward. They would also get untied funds from the municipality, state and central government.
• All funds should be transferred to mohalla sabhas and ward committees by municipality, state and central governments should be untied.
• Monthly meetings of mohalla sabha shall take place. People would take decisions collectively in mohalla sabhas and mohalla sabha representative, along with the local officials will just implement them.
• Mohalla sabha will make annual plans – what works should be carried out in that mohalla and at what places.
• Mohalla sabha shall have the power to summon local officials upto the level of JE, head master, ration shop keeper, sanitary supervisor, head mali, medical superintendent of any hospital catering to that area etc
• Mohall sabha shall have the power to impose financial penalty on local officials if they do not perform like if the teacher does not teach properly, if the mali does not work properly, if the sweeper does not come on time, if the JE makes bad road etc.
• Utilization certificate shall be issued by mohalla sabha, only after which final payment could be made to the contractor.
• Mohalla sabha shall have the power to cancel the ration shop if he/she does not give proper rations. Mohalla sabha shall also have the power to appoint new ration shop.
• Mohalla sabha shall ensure that no one is homeless, no one starves, no child is out of school and every one has adequate health facilities in that mohalla.
• Ward committee shall do the same jonbs as mentioned above and shall have the same powers with respect to the ward.
• Mohalla sabha shall issue residence and income certificates to its residents.
• No slums can be removed unless government has adequately rehabilitated the affected people and this satisfaction should be issued by the mohalla sabha of the affected area.
• All decisions shall be taken in mohalla sabha in open.
• Any mohalla sabha, through a resolution passed by two-thirds majority, can require the municipal corporation to discuss and decide upon any matter and municipality shall have to do it.
• If 5% mohalla sabhas spread over 5 wards pass a resolution with simple majority each, the municipality will have to consider and take such action. If municipality does not wish to take such action, they will send copies of such resolution to all mohalla sabhas for their opinion and if more than 50% of mohalla sabhas endorse that proposal, municipality shall have to implement it.
• State Government and municipality would not make any schemes, projects or programs which have to be implemented at mohalla or ward level. All affairs at mohalla and ward level shall be dealt by mohalla sabha and ward committee respectively. State Government would involve itself only with such projects which have statewide implications. Municipality will involve itself only with projects which have inter-ward implications. This would create clear demarcations in roles and responsibilities of various tiers of governance.

For complete draft of the Nagar Raj Bill prepared by the citizens, click here.