Chandigarh, May 27: The Chandigarh Residents’ Associations Welfare Federation (CRAWFED) has strongly opposed the proposed hike in rental charges for community centers and the plan to hand over their management to private agencies under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

In a representation submitted to the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, CRAWFED leaders expressed concern that such moves would go against the very purpose for which community centers were established — to provide affordable venues for social, cultural, educational, and community welfare activities.
“The proposed rent hike and PPP model would make community centers unaffordable for the general public and prevent many Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) from holding regular meetings at nominal charges,” said Hitesh Puri, Chairman of CRAWFED. “This shift towards commercialization would undermine the focus on public welfare and community participation.”
The federation has requested that the proposals be reconsidered during the upcoming MCC House meeting scheduled for May 30, 2025. It has urged the Municipal Corporation to retain nominal charges for community center usage and withdraw the plan to outsource management to private entities.
“We believe that public spaces should remain accessible to all citizens and not become profit-making ventures,” added Rajat Malhotra, General Secretary of CRAWFED. “The voices of residents must be heard and respected in this crucial decision.”
CRAWFED’s appeal reflects growing public sentiment against the privatization of civic resources, and all eyes are now on the Municipal Corporation’s response in the forthcoming meeting.