Discussion on ‘Okhla my home my responsibility’ held
A discussion on the theme “Okhla my home my responsibility” was held online a few days ago in which a senior researcher at Center for Budget and Governance Accountability and an expert on budgeting for the underprivileged sections participated with other social activities, including Dr Abdul Rashid Agwan.
While speaking in its third session, Dr Khan, talked on “South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC): Scope, Budget and Key Issues”.
Dr Khan said there are 18 functions related to the local administration which have been entrusted to the municipal corporations and the accountability of SDMC can be envisaged regarding the planning, policies and budget of those devolved functions, said VOC which organised the meeting.
“It was also said the total budget of SDMC remains around Rs 4,000 crore, most of which is spent on the system management (14 per cent), education (21 per cent), health (5 per cent), sanitation (21 per cent), roads and electricity (18 per cent) and the like. In this budget, very little is being spent on health and almost negligible on welfare schemes which need to be boosted. There is no detailed information regarding the SDMC’s budget on its website, which is a big drawback,” he said.
Dr Agwan, convener VoC, said the gravest injustice happening in Delhi is that about 40 per cent of its population has been put under “unauthorised colonies” and there is a ban on the use of any government fund there.
The public, political parties, councilors and MLAs should raise their voice against this lasting discrimination, only then the full benefits of SDMC will reach the deprived people, he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party had promised Swaraj, i.e. the plan and budget for the works of a particular area would be decided by the people of that area only, he said.
“But, after winning the election, it forgot this important scheme of democracy. However, people can make a plan on ward level and place the necessary demands for it to the authorities. As a result of this programme, it was decided that Dr Khan and other VOC colleagues would together prepare different presentations for the public, officers and leaders for awareness and the same would be taken to the relevant people,” he said.
