Sisodia discusses ‘Mohalla Sabha’ project with officers

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday held a meeting with officials to discuss the implementation of ‘Mohalla Sabha’ project in the national Capital. 

Last month, the AAP government had approved formation of 2,972 mohalla sabhas across 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi for encouraging people’s participation in governance at the local level.

“The Deputy CM held a preparatory meeting with officials concerned to discuss the implementation of the mohalla sabha project,” said a senior government official.

According to the government’s plan, development work worth Rs 350 crore under the Citizen Local Area Development (C-LAD) will be decided through these sabhas.

The government had conducted a pilot project of Mohalla Sabhas in 11 districts last year. 

Under it, the idea is to empower the citizens to discuss, deliberate and decide on works to be undertaken in their locality.

The residents were given the power to take decisions under Citizen’s Local Area Development fund or Swaraj Nidhi for developmental works in their areas.

These local bodies will coordinate with different government agencies for the execution of developmental works; help with social sector schemes like old age pension; and solve local grievances with the help of local officers.

Also, institutions including schools, anganwadis and PDS shops will be made accountable to the Mohalla Sabhas.

Besides choosing development projects, mohalla sabhas will coordinate with different government agencies for the execution of developmental work, identify and facilitate beneficiaries for different social sector schemes such as old age pension, and address local grievances with the help of local officers.