MCD to use 122 community halls for vocational training

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has decided to re-purpose 122 underutilised community halls and centres across the city to run employment-oriented vocational training and development programmes, targeting local youth and women. These sessions will be conducted daily between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The decision was taken in the MCD’s Standing Committee meeting, which approved a slew of development projects on Wednesday, including developing two solid waste management projects for Najafgarh, which will be funded under the Urban Development Fund by the central government.

Out of the 278 MCD-owned community halls and centres, 122 are either vacant or underutilised, and these spaces will now be made available to registered institutions, NGOs, and agencies that are part of government schemes or CSR initiatives, MCD said in a statement.

Meanwhile, several members raised serious concerns over ongoing civic issues, particularly garbage management, water drainage, stray dogs, and deteriorating infrastructure in schools.

Rajpal Singh, the BJP councillor and standing committee member from the central zone, expressed frustration over uncollected garbage piling up in his ward. 

“If there is no accountability for agencies handling waste collection, I would rather resign than watch this continue,” he said, urging the administration to act swiftly against private concessionaires showing negligence.

Responding to the BJP councillor, MCD Commissioner Ashwini Kumar said, “The tenders for the south, central, and west zones are expiring, and new contracts are being finalised. This process may take around nine months. Meanwhile, we’ve renewed short-term contracts to ensure the services continue.”

Raising the issue of crumbling school buildings and staff shortages, AAP councillor from Old Delhi, Rafia Mahir said, “Several MCD school buildings are in a dangerous state, and no new Urdu teachers have been hired in atleast 14 years.”

MCD chairperson Satya Sharma has directed officials to ensure proper maintenance of public toilets, transparency in building approvals, and regular inspection of swimming pools.