THE Executive Committee Meeting of FOSWAC (Federation of Sectors Welfare Association Chandigarh) was held in People Convention Centre Sector 36 Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Sh. Baljinder Singh Bittu on 28th August 2022.

THE Executive Committee Meeting of FOSWAC (Federation of Sectors Welfare Association Chandigarh) was held in People Convention Centre Sector 36 Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Sh. Baljinder Singh Bittu on 28th August 2022. It was attended by around 100 members from various RWAs. Sh. Kuldeep Singh Chahal SSP Chandigarh was the Chief Guest.
After customary welcome to the participants by the General Secretary Sh. J.S. GOGIA, the discussion was initiated by him to deliberate the unresolved issues related to the RWAs and to the city largely connected with the residents.
At the outset, Baljinder Singh Bittu Chairman FOSWAC drawn the attention of the house towards the recent resolution passed by the Municipal Corporation wherein the Municipal Councillors were allowed to undertake pleasure trips to the exotic places in the country under the pretext of study tours, “How the garbage collection and processing is being managed there” by spending the Tax Payers Money. Several such tours were already conducted by dozens of officials & Municipal councillors visiting many countries and exotic places in India in the recent past without any tangible results. While the garbage collection and processing has gone from bad to worst creating mountains at Dadu Majra. The house unanimously condemned the wastage of tax payers’ money
Addressing the members and the SSP, Baljinder Singh Bittu said that the security and safety of city residents, specially senior citizens’ and children is a matter of concern for all. He appealed to the SSP to take up the matter of installing security gates at entry points in each sector, with the architect department which in the name of Le Corbusier plan is denying any such permission, forgetting the changed scenario of Chandigarh. The population has increased manifold so is the crime rate. The RWAs are ready to install such gates with their own collection without any burden to the exchequer. The SSP agreed that such an effort will definitely reduce the crime and will help identify criminals. He further said that the menace of beggars and squatters has increased manifold. The concerned departments are mute.
According to the RWAs,. Needless to add that it is the duty of MC to provide basic amenities of cleanliness, electricity and water to the citizens but system is not working ‘said Col Gursewak Singh. “The sweepers are missing, the 30 to 50 years old sewage and water pipes need to be replaced”
Sh. K L Agarwal President RWA sector 13 said that there is no inbuilt mechanism to even acknowledge the complaints by the MC office. The officials neither acknowledge the complaints nor even keep any record of them what to talk about their redressal !
V.K. Nirmal said that the Public Window in the Police Headquarters is not working efficiently; many complaints go unattended for several months. There is an urgent need to streamline the process.
Sh. Narinder Bhatia President RWA sector 46 told the SSP that the begging in Chandigarh is operated by the organised gangs who bring beggars in private vehicles and spread them in the city temples and other religious place needs to be checked..
K.S. Panchhi from RWA sector 18 pointed, Though the vendors have been allotted the space yet they do not go to their designated places. No representative from FOSWAC was taken in the town vending committee formed by the MC Chandigarh even though the RWAs are the most affected by the encroachments.
Pankaj Gupta President RWA Sector 38 said that Some of the RWAs are not receiving the payments for months together for the maintenance of parks and toilets. Responsibility should be fixed of the concerned officials by the MC.
Mr. Pardeep Chopra Secretary RWA 21 said that the encroachments are rampet on the MC properties without any check by the Corporation but the Corporation acted swiftly and removed the National Flag within hours of its hoisting in Sector 21 saying that there is no permission to hoist it. He narrated the instance of highhandedness by the MC Chandigarh , wherein the ‘National flag which was hoisted with honour in the park of sector 21 on independence day, was uprooted and brought it down unceremoniously by the labour on the next day by the orders of MC branding the National Flag an encroachment on MC Park. Disrespecting National Flag is a cognizable offence but surprisingly nothing has been done despite complaint to the Administrator Chandigarh and to the Advisor.
Dr. K.S. Chaudary President RWA 38 W said that the increase in thefts in the city has scared the residents and they fell threatened while moving out of house for vacations or for attending functions.
Mr. Kuldeep Singh IPS SSP Chandigarh listened to the members patiently and assured them that he will personally look into the grievances raised by them. He said that the Police department will also take up the matter of installing security gates in sectors with the Architect Department. Regarding baggers he said that the involvement of Social Department is necessary and he will work on it to remove this problem.
The meeting ended with vote of thanks to the chair followed by lunch.