A resident welfare association (frequently abbreviated as RWA) is a Non-governmental organization that represents the interests of the residents of a specific urban or suburban locality, particularly in Indian cities.
[1] Membership is voluntary, and the leadership is usually elected by fee-paying members.
Members who do not pay the voluntary subscription fee in any year may not vote in the general body and other meetings of the association since they would be deemed to have opted out of membership in the voluntary association.
These acts also set the rules for the establishment of RWA bye-laws, which include such things as membership criteria, voting rights, and the conditions under which RWA officers can initiate legal proceedings on behalf of the registered society.
[5] RWAs have become increasingly involved in municipal politics and decision-making since the early 2000s and continue to grow in importance.