Contractors to get money only if people satisfied: Sisodia

Giving more power to people, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said contractors working on Delhi government projects in his constituency will only get paid if residents were satisfied with their work.

Giving more power to people, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said contractors working on Delhi government projects in his constituency will only get paid if residents were satisfied with their work.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia speaking to residents in Patparganj, seeking feedback about the roads built by contractors.

On Saturday, Sisodia inspected development work in his constituency, Patparganj, and talked to residents about the quality of work. Officials said he inspected fifteen development works completed recently.

“He ordered for the payment to be released wherever people expressed satisfaction with the work. At one location, residents expressed displeasure with the work. He asked officials not to release the payment to the contractor till work is done to the satisfaction of residents,” officials said.

During Sisodia’s visit, contractors and engineers of departments concerned were also present.

Later, he wrote on his Facebook page that he distributed pamphlets detailing the works to be done using MLA funds in a neighbourhood before the work starts.

“The pamphlets have contact numbers of the contractor and the concerned engineer. This has resulted in people ensuring work is done by the contractor in front of them and exactly how it was described in the pamphlet,” Sisodia wrote.

If residents are satisfied, they have to submit a letter to the deputy CM. “If people are happy with the work they give a letter with signatures of the locals saying they are satisfied with the work. Only after this, payment is released,” officials said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the model should be replicated across the city through ‘mohalla sabhas’ – Delhi government’s scheme to directly involve voters in decision-making related to their areas.

“Excellent. This needs to be institutionalised now thro mohalla sabhas (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted along with a video showing Sisodia talking to Patparganj residents.

Involving people in governance

Mohalla Sabhas: Every assembly constituency divided into 40-50 mohallas. People can propose, discuss and decide to carry out basic or urgent development works.

School Management Committee (SMC): Aims at involving parents in school functioning, including fund utilisation. Parents elected as members