Empowering Change: District Councillor’s Rally for Enhanced Roles and Resources in Sonipat ZP Meeting

A gathering of councillors took place in the Zilla Parishad hall on Wednesday, presided over by ZP Chairperson Monica Dahiya and supervised by CEO Dr Sushil Malik. During the meeting, Chairperson Monica Dahiya announced that ZP had received a government grant of Rs 2 crore 20 lakhs, which would amount to less than Rs 10 lakh per councillor for the district's 24 representatives. Initially, councillors raised objections to the reduced grant, expressing dissatisfaction. Subsequently, concerns were voiced about the absence of officers and employees from various departments at the meeting, leading to a demand to establish a voluntary quota for councillors, with a minimum allocation of Rs 50 lakh. This allocation would allow individuals to undertake projects up to Rs 25 lakh independently. Officials explained that the responsibilities of Sarpanch and Zilla Parishad councillors are now being divided, and suggestions were requested separately for efficient task allocation.

In the District Council meeting, Councillor Sanjay Barwasni demanded the completion of the 100-yard plot cut from Mahatma Gandhi Rural Basti, emphasizing the need for paved streets, water, sewer, and electricity connections. Barwasni proposed that each councillor should be annually allocated Rs 50 lakh by the government for spending in their ward, similar to the grant given to MLAs. He highlighted the disparity in spending authority, pointing out that while the Congress government had empowered councillors to spend Rs 10 lakh at their level, Zilla Parishad councillors faced restrictions, unable to spend even a single rupee at their level. Barwasni urged for facilities and bus services in Ward 17, emphasizing the need for authority in the role of district councillors.

The meeting addressed the need for pruning trees along roads, with CEO Dr Sushil instructing councillors to submit road names for tree pruning. Detailed information about upcoming development works in various villages was provided, and the repair of more than 200 Anganwadis in the district, along with water and electricity connections, was assured by PO Praveen Kumari. The gathering included the presence of former Chairman Rajbir Dahiya, BDPO Deepika Dahiya, BEO Jitendra Chhikkara, PO of the Women and Child Development Department Praveen Kumari, and all officers and district councillors.