
Chandigarh municipal corporation approves hike in community centre booking charges
2
Chandigarh: Denying the proposed two-to-three-fold major increase in the community centres bookings in all three categories, the general house of the municipal corporation on Tuesday approved policy guidelines for the management of community centres in the city with a minor hike in the booking charges.
There was an increase of Rs 3,000 for A category, Rs 2,000 for B category, and Rs 1,000 for C category community centres. The categorisation of the community centres was done based on their locations, construction, and given facilities to organise functions and gatherings as per laid down terms and conditions.
Besides that, the general house unanimously approved the free booking of the community centres for the girl child of DBT (direct benefit transfer) beneficiaries as per the records of the Chandigarh administration.
Additionally, on the proposal of Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh, it was also decided that on the recommendation of the municipal councillors, 20 free bookings will also be kept, which can be related to any category, like EWS, labour, poor people, etc.
The MC said that the key objective of the policy is to promote and encourage social, cultural, intellectual, literacy, and welfare activities among the residents, members of the community centres, and senior citizens, with the aim of building a happy, healthy, and patriotic society.
by Taboola
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The aspects of membership, eligibility criteria, termination, general terms and conditions, booking procedure, gyms, libraries, administrative committee, and functioning are widely explained in the policy.
For the urban area, the membership fee is Rs 1,000, and for senior citizens, the fee is proposed at Rs 500. For the membership fee of community centres in rehabilitation colonies, EWS colonies, and villages, the membership fee is Rs 500 and Rs 250, respectively.
A detailed agenda came for discussion, which read, "It is pertinent to point out that the audit party of AG (AE), UT, Chandigarh, during the post-audit for the year 2023-24, issued a memo objecting to the free cost of booking, especially for the marriage of girls belonging to below the poverty line as per the existing policy. Besides this, the office received various representations from the department of social welfare, Association of Senior Citizens, and the deputy commissioner, Chandigarh, regarding effective measures to control noise pollution in the community centres/janj ghars under the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation, Chandigarh.
The same has been examined and reviewed in the committee, and considerable suggestions have been incorporated."
The agenda further reads, "Accordingly, to review the policy guidelines for the management of community centres, a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of joint commissioner-III, MC, consisting of various officers. On the recommendation of the said committee, the agenda was placed before the general house in its 347th meeting held on March 25, but the same was deferred.
Thereafter, a committee of officers and councillors was constituted to re-examine the matter and bring comprehensive policy guidelines in the next meeting of the general house.
The committee re-examined and, after deliberated discussion, unanimously prepared the draft Policy Guidelines."
Details of revision of charges (Figures in Rs)
Community Centre---Existing Charges---Proposed Charges---Increased
Sector 19----------------------24,158---------------60,000--------------------3,000
Sector 23---------------------24,158---------------60,000--------------------3,000
Sector 30-------------------48,315----------------60,000--------------------3,000
Sector 35------------------48,315-----------------60,000--------------------3,000
Sector 37------------------48,315----------------60,000--------------------3,000
For B category
Community Centre----------Existing Charges--------Proposed Charges---Increased
Sector 8-------------------------13,198------------------------40,000--------------2,000
Sector 11------------------------24,158------------------------40,000--------------2,000
Sector 15----------------------24,158--------------------------40,000--------------2,000
Sector 21---------------------48,315---------------------------40,000--------------2,000
Sector 22--------------------24,158---------------------------40,000--------------2,000
For C category
Community Centre---------Existing Charges-----------Proposed Charges-------Increased
Ramdarbar--------------------------24,158---------------------------------30,000--------1,000
Indira Colony, Manimajra--------12,079---------------------------------20,000--------1,000
Daddumajra Colony-------------12,079----------------------------------20,000--------1,000
Village Dhanas--------------------6,039----------------------------------20,000--------1,000
Dharamshala, Manimajra------4,872----------------------------------5,000--------1,000

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