A Resident Welfare Association (RWA) is an integral part of modern-day societies. With hundreds and thousands of families living together in societies and townships, it is essential to have a body of elected members who are responsible for the time-to-time maintenance of the society, resolving problems of the members, organising events, and ensuring a safe and secure environment for the members. Thus, RWA is essential.

How is an RWA formed?

Generally, the association is a group of members elected by the society residents. Once elected, the RWA has to register under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is governed by constitutional documents such as Memorandum of Association that encapsulates their functions and objectives. Seven or more people can subscribe their name for MOA for registration under Registrar of Societies to form themselves into a Society under Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Who can be a member of RWA?

  • Anyone who is a major and is keen to participate in the development of society can be a member of RWA. Besides, he should abide by the terms and conditions of the society without any discrimination of colour, caste, creed, and religion.

What are membership rules of RWAs?

  • The RWA has the right to deny membership to an individual post citing the reason for refusal in writing to the concerned person.
  • The membership is subject to termination if the member is working against the aims and objectives of the society, or the person dies, resigns or fails to attend three successive meetings without intimating in writing.
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Roles and objectives of RWA

Every RWA has a President, Treasurer and Secretary to carry out various roles effectively.

What are the roles of the president of the RWA?

  • He is responsible to defend all legal disputes against the association and can sue or be sued by people for legal purposes and reasons.
  • He will have the final call towards purchasing or approving any contract for the committee and implementing the same.
  • He should be aware of all the events and occurrences in the society and ensure that people are content. He also oversees all the expenses and makes sure that they are used for resident’s well-being and development.
  • In small societies, development activities may be limited to maintaining internal roads, cleanliness, improving common facilities like park, drainage, street lights, water and electricity. But in bigger societies, the roles and responsibilities of the President extend to supervising shops, mini bazaars and improvising banking, health care, and bus services too.

Treasurer

  • He is responsible for collecting and maintaining all the funds and documents in the association.
  • Treasurer’s role involves good management skills as the funds and documents are of high importance to the body. A person with huge experience and management expertise should be elected as a treasurer.
  • He is also in charge of maintaining overall income and monthly expenses.

Secretary

  • The secretary has the onus of carrying out various general body meetings whenever required.
  • He should compile the minutes of the meeting, tactfully analyse the agenda and actively contribute to it.
  • He should focus on the qualms and concerns of each and every member of the society and should ensure proper resolutions in accordance with aforementioned elected representatives.

Altogether, RWA is an important body for a society. Therefore, the members representing the association should be well-deserving candidates with years of experience, acumen and knowledge in the realm. Also, the members should be willing to participate in societies’ development and take the onus of responsibilities assigned.