URJA, estd. in 2005 it gathers, analyzes, disseminates information & aggregates public opinion, is volunteer led & Delhi’s largest civil society initiative. URJA networks with 2500 RWA apart from several NGOs.
Brief history of the Civil Society roots of URJA since its inception and a record of our work over the last decade
URJA in Delhi & JAFRA in Gurgaon as the apex body of RWAs in the two cities were instituted by active members of the advocacy group People’s Action to specifically address the needs of last-mile governance at the colony level and accountability of civic authorities at the Municipal ward level.
URJA, a registered NGO in Delhi is managed by an independent Senate and its coordinators at the assembly constituency level.
2002-03
Our view of the issue regarding cheating by auto drivers was based on the abject failure of the Delhi Government in bringing the drivers to book and/ or making any dent in the situation.
Keeping in line with our approach of finding real solutions and channelising public opinion to positive Action, we created a chart of Distances between the main commuter points of Delhi. On the chart we also printed a conversion table that one can use to arrive at an
approximately fare for the distance travelled.
The result was stunning. The chart revealed that on average every Auto/ Taxi overcharged commuters to the tune of 100% over and above the actual fare! The Delhi Government, faced with the reality, promised to think about such a chart to empower citizens of Delhi.
A fare Chart was released for both Autos and Taxis based on the Distance Chart, which gives approximate figures of what the fare should be between the main commuter points in Delhi.
The second issue that was undertaken was the issue of Pre paid system for autos and taxis at the airports and stations. Careful calibrations showed that pre-paid booths ended up charging up to 40% extra from unsuspecting commuters. This campaign was highlighted in the media and involved the Delhi Police, which mans these booths.
People’s Action, through its President, submitted results of a campaign initiated to audit the environment in a colony in Gurgaon. This campaign was under taken after research that showed almost 60 percent of park area had been reconstituted as plot area by the developers in the area using all possible loopholes in the law. The effort will help in developing greater sensitivity among people for protection and preservation of whatever is left of the green cover not only in Gurgaon but also in Delhi and other parts of the NCR.
First, the Gurgaon RWA Convention was held at 32 nd Milestone. Here over forty registered Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and NGOs discussed the breakdown of power, water, and poor transport services, choked roads unprecedented pollution, and serious security problems in the city. The concern came up as in the last five years things had been going from bad to worse. The meeting also discussed what the residents themselves could do to improve the quality of life. This Convention led to the formation of the People’s Action Gurgaon Council with one member represented from each participant RWA.
The campaign for disclosure by candidates standing for election was initiated with a Press Conference to discuss the issue in view of the landmark Supreme Court judgement and the Election Commission of India’s directive making it mandatory for candidates standing for elections to disclose on affidavits their antecedent, movable and immovable assets and educational qualifications. Later, in this regard, People’s Action organised a Convention of registered NGOs, RWAs, and Social Organisations at New Delhi to discuss a road map for taking the Supreme Court judgement, regarding a citizen’s right to know a candidate’s antecedents, to its logical conclusion.
People’s Action organised a “Meet Your Candidate” Programme under Delhi Election Watch a coalition of several NGOs and concerned citizens of Delhi whose main objectives has been that such a disclosure system should not remain only on paper but should be disseminated to the voters in an intelligible manner. The sole motive is to help the voters know the background and other relevant information about candidates contesting elections so that they can make a carefully considered choice in casting their vote. Being one of the coalition partners of the DEW, People’s Action worked with the DEW in
the entire exercise for the cause of transparency in the electoral system and active participation of the citizens in the process.
Just before the Assembly elections in Delhi, People’s Action undertook a visible campaign to enthuse voters to come out and cast their votes. This campaign was aimed at the middle classes and the educated whose participation has traditionally been lower in comparison to the other polarised sections of society.