Shillong: Shillong residents gathered at the Bosco Integrated Development Society in Nongthymmai on September 25 and 26 to tackle a backlog of local crises. The inaugural Neighbourhoods of the Future event brought together students, women’s groups, and Dorbar Shnong members. They faced harsh realities. Traffic congestion, crumbling infrastructure, and crime topped the list of grievances.
Drivers ignore safety rules. Speeding and loud, modified silencers plague local roads. One student reported a motorcycle theft near a church, demanding better CCTV coverage and secure parking. Participants also walked the streets to document reality. They found leaking pipes, deep potholes, and scattered trash along the Motinagar-to-Malki route.
Accountability remains a point of contention. Some residents find their local Dorbar Shnong accessible and responsive. Others feel ignored. One attendee noted she had never been invited to a meeting. Local activist Nicky J argued that many Dorbars lack resources and structured authority. He stated, "Dorbars have rules but lack structured functioning, authority and resources."
Residents identified pockets of progress despite the decay. In Madanrting, new tenants must register with the Rangbah Dong to curb local drug issues. Nongrah residents successfully alerted police to a suspected trafficker. Meanwhile, youth in Laitkor and Lumparing are keeping kids off the streets through free sports coaching.
The initiative, led by the Sauramandala Foundation with support from Socratus and the Rainmatter Foundation, spans four Indian states. Organizers insist the platform is not for mere complaining. They want to catalog neighborhood skills and time. Future plans include a public board and a locality dashboard to track progress. The primary challenge is turning talk into tangible results.
Comments