Will thana-level committees be formed across Delhi?
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Will thana-level committees be formed across Delhi?

If approved by the LG office, SHOs of an area's police station will have to meet the RWAs once in two months to discuss crime-related issues.

Will thana-level committees be formed across Delhi?

The Delhi government is planning to re-introduce thana-level committees involving RWAs in all residential areas of the city. Sources told City Spidey that the social welfare department of the state government has prepared a complete blueprint on it and is likely to present it before the Cabinet meeting soon. 

The Delhi government's thana-level committee was an attempt to control day-to-day crime and other development issues with the help of local RWAs. The system was introduced on the recommendation of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal in 2015, as a preventive measure against increasing crimes against women in the city.

However, former Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung had disapproved the AAP government’s proposal to set up the committees. Jung had opposed it because the government’s proposal had stated that the committee would be headed by the area MLA. Some RWAs, too, had opposed the involvement of a political individual in the system. 

Thana-lavel committees are akin to the Jan-Bhagidari system introduced by former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. Unlike the thana-level committee, however, the supervision power was given to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and not to a politician. 

VS Vohra, president of the East Delhi RWAs joint forum, said, “The thana-level committees will give power to RWAs in many ways. But it is acceptable only if it is supervised by a government official and not a politician. The involvement of politicians will make it like mohalla sabhas, which are of no use to RWAs.”

Although the head of the committees is yet to be finalised, SHOs of an area's police station will have to meet the RWAs once in two months to discuss crime-related issues if it is approved by the LG office.

Similarly, area in-charge officials from municipal corporations, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will also hold regular meetings with RWAs once every two months. 

Ashutosh Dikshit, president of United Resident Joint Action (URJA), the apex body of South Delhi’s RWAs, said, “Thana-level committees are the need of the hour. I don't know who is going to head the system but it will definitely be helpful to RWAs. If implemented, RWAs will not have to go from pillar the post for trivial issues.” 

Purusottam Bhatt, president of United India Apartments, a society in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, said, “Thana-level committees will help build a good relationship between residents and the police.”