Citizens Engagement in Dharamshala

12 Nov 2015

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Citizen participation and engagement is central to the smart city proposal development process in Dharamshala. The present Municipal Council has a population of approximately 23,000 persons and it is the endeavor of MC Dharamshala to integrate each of these ‘voices’. Extensive engagement and consultations were conducted with the different stakeholder groups in the city and the public at large through multiple channels and platforms for the purpose. These included:

  • Smart City discussion forum on MC Dharamshala website
  • Social media – Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
  • Call for ideas through Logo design, branding and essay competitions
  • Information kiosks at cultural and social events in the city
  • Regular public meetings and Community level focused group discussions,
  • Stakeholder workshops and meetings with various public agencies, city councilors, NGOs, local experts, the academia, hotelier and trade associations, taxi unions among others.

The engagement process also witnessed extensive enthusiasm and participation on the part of the citizens. The people of Dharamshala came up with written suggestions and detailed proposals for realizing the Smart City Vision. Numerous suggestions were received everyday throughout the proposal preparation process on the Smart City discussion forum of MC Dharamshala. In addition to the official Facebook page, the citizens voluntarily came up with a ‘Dharamshala Smart City’ page and community on the social networking site Facebook , which saw extensive activity and discussion by the members on how the city can realize its smart city vision. Competitions were floated for Logo designing and branding of the city. Students and youth contributed to the vision formulation through the essay competition on ‘Mere sapno ka shahar – Dharamshala’. All these activities resulted in more than two hundred ideas and proposals for the city and the Smart City Vision and Proposal for Dharamshala will endeavor to realize these.

 

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Figure: Process of citizen engagement for Dharamshala Smart City Proposal

More than 3,000 members (14% population of the present municipal council) as on 28th October, 2015.

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Figure: Snapshots of Citizens Engagement in Dharamshala

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Total Comments - 47

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  • Sandeep Dhiman - 8 years ago

    The proposal discussed with us are very promising and fruitful for the developing Dharamshala as Smart City and goes on with slogan "A Step Forward to Smart Neighborhood" with the tagline Discover Spiritually Smart Dharamshala.

  • Babita Goswami - 8 years ago

    To make Dharamshala a smart city, it is required a lot of basic developmental activities such as better roads and transportation, more educational institutions and hospitals. Need to Focus on implementing new technologies and employment opportunities as it is seen that the youth those have high potential are moving in other states for better job opportunities.

  • RIJUL GILL - 8 years ago

    THE DHAUALADHAR RANGE is the pride of SMART CITY DHARAMSHALA .Eco tourism activities like trekking , mountaineering , paragliding , nature walks etc can be developed in such a way where it would attract tourists from all over the world. this place has immense potential for all adventure activities its just that we need to develop a system where these activities can be promoted on the international platform .

  • RIJUL GILL - 8 years ago

    SMART CITY DHARAMSHALA needs a smart inter city connectivity where people can travel at ease from one part of the city to the other. we need to de-congest our city by improving our internal transport system . public transport needs to be encouraged and people should give up on using their vehicles and go for public transport which will not only decongest but also help in reducing pollution. Walking and cycling activities must be promoted and new tracks should be developed for enthusiasts.

  • Mohit Angrish - 8 years ago

    Health:
    The key issues are- pollution from solid waste, open defection, water supply and, overflowing sewerage.
    Firstly the solid waste management is the need of hour. Organizing awareness campaigns and encouraging the residents, installing smart dustbins pan city at every 80 to 100m, along with e-toilets especially at all the city centers and conventional community toilets for the financially weak can begin the needed transformation.
    Secondly, the defunct water distribution has to be upgraded,

  • Mohit Angrish - 8 years ago

    Transportation and Tourism:
    Tourism being the main stay, the city chokes often on weekends and other events due to the heavy influx of tourists.
    The main issues here are the lack of parking spaces, narrow roads, absence of alternate and internal roads, incompletion of internals roads and moreover absence of an outer ring road.
    These issues can be resolved by developing Smart parking at the various city centers. Widening of the narrow lanes. Constructing alternate roads and having a new internal

  • Mohit Angrish - 8 years ago

    First and foremost the unchecked concretization has to be dealt with sternly.
    Being in seismic zone V, Dharamshala has to be developed in such a way that the present scenario of having seven to eight floor building i.e.; creating our own mass death traps is checked and in fact done away with. Circumventing the present laws is like digging our own graves. However any development done here should and must have utmost impetus on dealing with the present concrete jungle. Right now, this very minute

  • Mohit Angrish - 8 years ago

    Welcome to our home, Dharamshala.
    Congratulations to all fellow residents and people of this beautiful place.

    We all are blessed to be here nestled in the lap of the Mighty DHAULADHARS with Mata Kunal Pathri and Lord Shiva showering blessing for north, Mata Chamunda from east and also having HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA here, we are very close to divinity.

    With vast potential be in the field of Science , Medicine , Industry , Tourism to name a few, Dharamshala has been selected to be one of the

  • nilesh pednekaar - 8 years ago

    respected sir/madam
    please go to the grass root level i.e go to people with their language and engage them to talk about problem. To developed dharamshala we should not play with environment make balance way do develop dharamshala. climate change play important role in north part of india.

  • amandeep singh Gujral - 8 years ago

    I think before focusing on new investments and projects, the smart city team of Dharamshala should focus on increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of existing systems by adopting modern governance practices. e.g. Like collection of house tax online, collecting rent from municipal shops online, etc.

    These improvements will become the foundation for disruptive improvements which should be done in later stage.