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CONFEDERATION OF RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND BYE LAWS
1. Name of the Association: CONFEDERATION OF RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS.
2. Address of the Association:
Hyderabad- 500 017, India.

12-13-705/10 AB, Balaji Residency, 106, Gokulnagar, Tarnaka,

3. Working Area of the Association:

All States & Union Territories of India.

4. Preamble: Residents Welfare Associations are the finest expression of civil society consensus; an
answer to urban problems; a tool for community building, self management and direct democracy.
Below the third tier of our constitutional local polity, they further de-centralise democratic governance
at the level of the micro urban communities. The confederation will strive to stimulate democratic
vigour of the member associations in order to enhance the quality of life of the residents, to promote
conditions for sharing and caring among the residents and to contribute towards development of urban
infrastructures.
5. Aims and objectives of the Confederation:
5.a. To help forming new associations and facilitate their capacity-building and to federate themselves at all
levels;
5.b.To endeavour to unite, co-ordinate and bring on to one common forum all the RWAs in the country, while
respecting their diversity;
5.c.To strive to preserve, protect the rights, freedoms, identity etc. of all the constituent welfare associations and
their residents;
5.d. To identify and to try to solve major common issues confronting the resident welfare associations as well as
the local needs and aspirations of the residents;
5.e.To make representations for the redressal of any grievances or proposals to improve the governance, put
forth by any constituent unit before any urban local body or the State government or the Union government or
any constitutional body or local development authority;
5.f. To propose and establish regular dialogue procedures with the administrative authorities in order to
harmonise the efforts for local development and maintenance of infrastructures;
5.g. To do all that is necessary in the interests of the residents to improve the urban micro-communities and to
promote an urban culture of solidarity and social progress;
5.h. To take up with the appropriate concerned authorities for constitutional & legal recognition and

empowerment of RWAs;

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5.i.To develop models of collective negotiations and dialogue with private sector service providers in order to
enhance the quality of services and to protect the rights of the citizen as consumer;
5.j.To publish, periodical news magazines, covering the activities of the associations and informative bulletins
with useful information for circulation among member associations;
5.k.To provide help, assistance, guidance, training as well as support to member organizations in getting
suitable representations to the concerned authorities/bodies engaged in provision of civic amenities and
developmental/welfare activities.

6. Membership:
6.1 All Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and their Federations, having a legal entity and
registered under the laws of any State government or Union Territory in India, undertaking to work for
the welfare of their residents, as an area Residents Welfare Association (ArRWA) or as an
apartments-building association (ApRWA), without any political or religious or communal affiliation
in India or abroad shall be eligible to become members of the Confederation.
6.2. Founder Members: All the members of the first Interim Executive Committee formed at
Hyderabad shall be designated as life time Founder Members of the Executive Committee and they
shall have a right to vote and contest the elections, viz.,

1. Federation of Noida Resident Welfare Associations (FONRWA), U.P.

2. Jayanagar RWA, Benguluru, Karnataka
3. Bangalore III Phase Welfare Association, Benguluru, Karnataka
4. Federation of RWAs, Ghaziabad, U.P.
5. Residents Apex Council of Kerala,(RACK), Trivandrum, Kerala
6. AGNI, Mumbai, M.S.
7. Ceebros Gardens Owners & Residents Association, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
8.United Federation of RWAs (UFERWAS), A.P.
9. Nabi Kareem RWA, Delhi,
10. Apartment-Building RWA, Nagpur, M.S.
11. Tara Residency Welfare Association, Sasram, Bihar

7. Associate members: Other registered organizations which co-operate with the RWAs at any level
for the welfare of the residents and for holistic development may also be admitted. They may be
invited to participate at any level of the meetings, without right to vote or to contest in the elections.
8. Funds and Subscriptions: The membership fee and other modalities of financial contributions for
covering the projects and activities of the Confederation, shall be as may be decided by the Executive
Committee, from time to time.
8.1 Admission fee of Rs. 1,000/- as one time payment to be a member. Admission fee of Rs. 500/- as

one time payment to be an Associate member.

8.2 Annual membership subscription shall be Rs. 1,000/- for the federations, Rs. 500/- for single
RWAs.

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8.3 Annual subscriptions by Associate member and NGOs shall be Rs. 500/- per annum
8.4 Other Contributions and Donations: RWAs, federations, societies, associations and individuals

interested in the welfare activities may make voluntary contributions, donations as acceptable to the
Executive Committee, from time to time, as well as sponsorships for conducting meetings, social
gatherings, exchange programmes, seminars, studies, research, visits, etc.
8.5. The year means financial year beginning on 1st April and ending on next 31st March.

9. Eligibility to contest and Weightage in the elections:

The date and the process shall be announced by the Returning Officer(s) in consultation with
the President and the Secretary General at least two months before the date of election.
9.1a.

The Returning Officer(s) shall notify the schedule, final voter list and the modalities for the
conduct of the election, which shall be circulated to all member organizations.
9.1b.

9.2. In all elections and voting for decision-making, the member-federation shall have two votes and

the member-RWA shall have one vote.

9.3 a. A member of the General Body or the Executive Committee, who would be unable to be present,

may give proxy on a standard format to vote and to contest in the elections and in the decisionmaking, to another member.
9.3 b. Such a mandate should reach the Returning officer(s) or the President, as the case may be,
fifteen days before the projected meeting.
9.3 c. No member shall carry more than one proxy.
9.4 The nominated persons of member organizations registered a month prior to the date of election,

shall only be eligible to cast their votes or contest the elections.

9.5 Founder Members, who have a valid membership, shall also be entitled to give vote and contest

the elections.
10. Members Modifications, Termination:
10.1 Federations and RWAs shall be entitled to nominate a number of persons, being upto 5 from the
federations and upto 2 from the RWA by virtue of being a member to attend and participate in all the meetings,
although the number of votes depend upon the category of membership.

10.2.If a member-organisation wishes to change the names of its delegates, it shall inform the
President before convening of the next Executive Committee.
10.3 The casual vacancy of any post of an office-bearer, other than the President and Secretary General,
shall be filled in by the Executive Committee out of its members up to the term of the present Executive
Committee or up to next General Body, which ever is earlier.

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10.4.The vacancy in the office of the President or Secretary General, shall be filled in by an election to be
convened for the purpose by the Executive Committee, within three months from the date of vacancy or at the
Executive Committee convened immediately after the next General Body Meeting, whichever is earlier. Until
then, the officiating arrangements shall be made by the Executive Committee.

11. Cessation Of Membership: A member organization shall cease to be the member of the Confederation,
in the following cases:
11.a. If a member organization fails to pay dues and prescribed subscriptions etc. for two consecutive years,
without having obtained the exemption from the Executive committee;
11.b. If a Member-organization voluntarily tenders resignation in writing and when the resignation is accepted
by the Executive Committee;
11.c. If a member-organization is dissolved;
11.d. If the Executive Committee has resolved in the previous meeting that the member organization or its
nominee person has acted against the interests of the Confederation;
11.e. If the member organisation or any one of its delegated persons is indicted by a court of law for offences
under Cr.P.C. or I.P.C.
12. General Council: There shall be a General Council whose modalities and relationship to the General body
are to be defined and adopted at one of the succeeding General Body meetings.

13. General Body:

13.1 a. The General Body consisting of all the members in full validity shall be entitled to receive and hear the
following reports for the adoption: (i) the report of activities of the Secretary General , (ii) the report of the
Internal Auditor and (iii) the report of the External Auditor.

13.1 b. The General Body shall meet at least, once in a year to discuss all matters of interest to the
Confederation, to elaborate policies and to give general directions to the Executive Committee.
13. 2. It shall ratify the names of the Advisors for the Advisory Board, as admitted by the Executive
Committee.
13.3. a. The General Body shall elect a maximum of 40 members to the Executive Committee on the
basis of secret ballot by majority voting system, or unanimity or on the basis of any other modus
operandi, approved by 2/3rd majority of the members present at the General Body meeting, for a term
of two years, with due consideration of geographical representation.
13.3.b. However, the Returning Officer may arrange postal or other means of balloting also, if they are
pre-registered, in order to ensure proper geographical representation in the election process.
13.4. The Quorum for holding the General Body meeting shall be one-sixth of the total members and
the decisions shall be taken on the basis of the majority of the members present and represented. If the

Quorum is not sufficient, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and be reconvened to carry
on the business, provided, the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer are present.
14. ADVISORY BOARD:
14.a. A Advisory Board with unspecified number of eminent national or regional personalities shall be coopted by the Executive Committee, on the recommendation of any office-bearer, subject to ratification by the
General Body, at its subsequent meeting.
14.b. It may be re-constituted every year based on the contributions of the Advisors.
14.c. The past presidents and the past secretaries general may also be considered for inclusion.
14.d. Special interest groups of NGOs, sponsors, donors, etc. may be invited to be Advisors.
14.e. They may be invited to attend and advise any meeting on any subject or at any place of any member
organisation.
14.f. They can, particularly, be consulted by the Executive Committee and the office-bearers.
15. The Executive Committee:
15. 1 The Executive Committee at its first meeting, immediately after being elected by the General

Body shall elect the following office-bearers out of them. They can elect up to a maximum of 29
office-bearers, keeping in view geographical representation.
1 President
2 Eight Executive Vice-Presidents
3 Secretary General
4 Eight Secretaries
5. Eight Joint Secretaries
5 Treasurer
6. Joint Treasurer
7. Internal Auditor
15.2. The immediate past president and the immediate past secretary general shall be the ex-officio
members of the Executive Committee with right to vote.
15.3. No office-bearer shall hold the same post continuously for more than two terms.
15.4. The E.C. shall also nominate an external professional auditor.

15.5. The E.C.shall make, from time to time, Standing Orders in the nature of bye-laws for the
efficient functioning of the office-bearers, election procedures and financial management, subject to
the ratification by the General Body at its subsequent meeting.
15.6. The EC should meet, at least, once in a year. Quorum for holding the meeting is one-sixth of the
total number and the decisions are taken by the majority of the members present and represented.
15.7. If the Quorum is not sufficient, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and be
reassembled to carry on the business, provided the President, the General Secretary and the Treasurer
are present.
15.8. Members shall function individually, severally and jointly for smooth functioning of the
Confederation. All of them shall function under the guidance and authority of the President and the
Secretary General.
15.9. Members are required to furnish in writing to the Secretary General or to the designated
secretariat, at least 15 days before the meeting, any issue they would like to bring before the forth
coming meeting.
15.10. The Executive Committee, at its first meeting, shall designate the head of the secretariat out of
the key office-bearers of the Managing Committee, as additional functions.
16. A Managing Committee within the Executive Committee, with a limited number of officebearers, including the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer, may function for practical
purposes, without necessarily meeting physically and without any quorum or voting, by way of
teleconferences, faxes, e-mails, etc. It is constantly answerable to the E.C.
17. President:
17.a. He shall be the Chief Executive and preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee and General
Body of the Confederation and shall guide the discussions so as to arrive at consensus, as much as possible. He
will ensure functioning of the General Body as well as the Executive Committee in the collective interest.
17.b. He shall represent the Organisation on all occasions.
17.c. When a decision gets equally divided, the presiding officer shall exercise his casting vote.
17.d. He may nominate Sub-Committees or assign any specific mission or responsibility to any of the members
of the Executive Committee.
17.e. The President, in consultation with the secretary general, shall nominate one Returning Officer and
two Assistant Returning Officers in view of any election, with those who are not contesting in the projected
elections, in order to determine the modalities, to conduct the elections till announcing the results.

18. Executive Vice-Presidents:

18.a. In the absence of the President or with his consent, the Executive Vice-President who is senior
most in age or any other Executive vice- President, in that order, may act as the interim President.
18.b. They represent the Organisation.
18.c. They may be in charge of geographical areas and convene members to form representative
bodies at district, state and zonal level or may be assigned some subjects of interest to the
Confederation.
19. Secretary General:
19.a. He shall be the Principal Executive of the Confederation. He shall function in close coordination with the
President and shall represent the organization.
19.b. The Secretary General in consultation with the President shall decide the date, venue and the agenda of
the General Body and the Executive Committee and notify to all the members.
19.c. The Secretary General shall ensure that the head of the secretariat maintains all records and notices for
the meetings, carry out all the correspondence and perform all other related functions in the interests of the
Confederation.

20. Secretaries and Joint Secretaries:

20.a. They may be assigned to be in charge of geographical areas or some subjects of interest to the
Confederation, including membership drive.
20.b. They represent the Organisation
21. Treasurer:
21.a. He shall be responsible for maintenance of all financial transactions and shall present regularly the
accounts before the Executive Committee and the General Body.
21.b. He shall share the work with the Joint Treasurer and cooperate with the Internal Auditor.
21.c. All funds received shall be deposited only in nationalized banks having facilities of e-banking
transactions from distance, by the Treasurer, the General Secretary and the President, severally or jointly.
21.d. The bank accounts of the Confederation shall be operated by any two office bearers from among the
President, Secretary General and Treasurer. In case, two among them are not available, the Executive
Committee can authorize any other person to sign in their absence.

22. Internal Auditor: He shall be responsible to oversee the accounts being maintained by the
Treasurer and the Joint Treasurer and render requisite guidance & assistance in proper maintenance of
the accounts. He shall make requisite observations and comments for improving the system and
procedures to fulfill the spirit of the purpose of the expenditure or the income. S/He shall submit his
reports to the Executive Committee, from time to time.

23. External Professional Auditor: He shall not be a member of the Confederation or of its
constituent members. He shall scrutinize and submit the annual accounts of the Confederation thirty
days before every Annual General Meeting.
24.a. The Administrative office: The head of administration shall be responsible for managing the
office, giving instructions to staff, maintaining correspondence with all other members, maintaining
office assets, equipment, records, etc.
24.b. S/He shall take the responsibility of getting recorded and maintain the accounts, proceedings and
minutes of all meetings and activities the General Body, the Executive Committee and the Managing
Committee in hard and soft copies.
24.c. S/He shall keep the office transferable, under instructions from the first meeting of the Executive
Committee.
25. Amendments in the Bye-laws:
25.a. The General Body may adopt modifications to the constitution by two-thirds of members present
and represented at the meeting and also more than one-fifth of the total membership.
25.b. Amendments to the bye-laws to be considered by the General body shall be circulated at least
15 days before the date of meeting.
26.Arbitration: Any dispute arising among the members shall be referred to an independent panel
consisting of three members or Advisors to settle the dispute internally. Failing internal settlement, an
Alternate Dispute Resolution Centre at the place of the registered office or of the Administrative office
of the Confederation shall be approached, under the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
1996.
27. Dissolution: The Confederation shall be wound up by a resolution passed by not less than twothird of the total members of General Body. All members shall be called by issue of a notice to this
effect giving a minimum of thirty days notice. This body of members shall also decide the basis of
clearing the liabilities and disposal of assets. Relevant sections of the Societies Registration Act, shall
be applicable in this regard.
28. All Rules and Bye-Laws of the Confederation shall be in accordance and in harmony with
relevant sections of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, read with Andhra Pradesh Societies
Registration Act, 2001.
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