New Delhi: To push its Mohalla Sabha initiative which enables locals to have a say on what civic projects are undertaken in their area, the AAP-led Delhi government on Monday allocated Rs 350 crore in the 2016-17 budget under the Swaraj Nidhi Yojna.

As the Budget was presented in the Assembly, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said mohalla sabhas will be organised this year in all the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi.

Last year, the government had organised such sabhas in 11 Assembly constituencies on an experimental basis, allocating Rs 20 crore for each constituency to execute civic projects.

“Rs 5 crore will be given to each mohalla sabha where the locals will decide which development projects should be taken up,” the chief minister said.

His deputy Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, termed the move a “landmark” one and said that MLAs will also contribute from their fund of Rs 4 crore to implement the decisions taken at these public meetings.
Through these sabhas, the people will make suggestions to the government as to what projects should be taken up in their localities keeping in mind the requirements.

Only those registered as voters at the polling centres where mohalla sabhas are held can take part in the exercise.