Gurgaon MCG Constitutes Ward Committees After 10-Month Delay to Strengthen Local Governance
In a significant move to decentralize governance and foster citizen engagement, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has finally constituted ward committees across all city wards, ten months after the election of the new MCG House. The decision was made unanimously during a special meeting chaired by Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra on Thursday.
Unanimous Approval and Bank Accounts for Committees
The House reached a consensus on forming these committees, with councillors appointed as chairpersons of their respective ward committees in line with the Haryana Municipal Citizens Participation Act, 2008. Additionally, the meeting approved the opening of bank accounts for the ward committees to facilitate financial operations and transparency.
While a majority of councillors have submitted the names of ward committee members as per the Act's criteria, officials noted that some councillors are yet to provide their lists. "Once we get ward committee members from all the wards, we will notify these ward committees," stated an MCG official, highlighting the pending steps for full implementation.
Enhancing Local Development and Citizen Dialogue
Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative. "The formation of ward committees will help in determining the priorities of development plans at the local level. This initiative will establish direct dialogue between citizens and the municipal corporation, which will make it possible to solve problems quickly," she said. Malhotra added that common people's participation is crucial for the city's development, and ward committees will serve as an effective platform to achieve this goal.
MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya echoed these sentiments, stating that ward committees will become a strong medium of coordination between MCG and residents. "Through these, identification of hyperlocal problems, monitoring of development works and issues related to basic facilities like cleanliness, drainage, roads and street lights can be resolved in a more systematic manner," Dahiya explained. He further assured that regular meetings will review works, ensuring transparency and accountability in municipal operations.
Composition and Responsibilities of Ward Committees
According to the Haryana Municipal Citizens Participation Act, 2008, the composition and functions of ward committees are clearly defined:
- The area sabha representative of a locality will be an ex-officio member of the ward committee of the ward in which the area falls.
- The committee will include between three and 10 members nominated by the municipality from among local residents as area sabha representatives.
- Wards with a population of up to 10,000 will have four nominated members, with one additional member for every additional 4,000 residents. Population increases of less than 2,000 will not be counted while determining the total strength.
- At least one-third of the committee members must be women, and representation of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes must be in proportion to their population in the ward.
Ward committees are tasked with a wide range of civic, developmental, and welfare functions at the local level. Key responsibilities include:
- Assisting in solid waste management and supervising sanitation work in their respective wards.
- Planning, implementing, and monitoring development schemes, while encouraging local initiatives and public-private partnerships.
- Ensuring the maintenance of parks, playgrounds, streets, and street lighting to improve civic infrastructure.
- Supporting public health centres, particularly in disease prevention, family welfare, and reporting outbreaks of epidemics or natural calamities.
Addressing Past Conflicts and Future Prospects
During the tenure of the last House, conflicts were observed between Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and ward committees over the maintenance of services such as parks and community centres. The new formation aims to mitigate such issues by providing a structured platform for collaboration and problem-solving.
This initiative marks a pivotal step towards participatory governance in Gurgaon, aligning with broader efforts to enhance municipal efficiency and citizen satisfaction. As the committees become operational, they are expected to play a vital role in addressing hyperlocal challenges and driving sustainable urban development.
