Grassroots reform a top priority
Print Edition
A community reform program called “Top Agenda” is one of the Shanghai government’s priority policies this year.
It’s aimed at improving management of local communities and giving residents a greater voice in how their neighborhoods are run. The idea is to improve local living conditions, allocating resources according to community needs.
Minhang is among the districts putting the policy into action.
Qibao Town and the Gumei community have been among the first off the block.
First task
Qibao took as its first task the reform of so-called “in-town-villages,” which are areas of predominately migrant workers who live in sometimes dilapidated housing. According to the town government, nearly 70,000 people live in these villages, and it is often hard to convince residents to remove unsafe, jerry-built structures erected there.
But Qibao has a plan. Youyi Village, once a typical “in-town-village,” is now a clean, tidy and safe neighborhood after three months of effort.
“What triggered the reform was a fire early last year,” said Yao Chunhua, deputy party leader of the town. “A shack caught fire and a resident was killed.”
The village government began urging villagers to remove such structures, which are mostly rented to migrants. It was not an easy task because removal meant reduced incomes for landlords.
Meng Zhenhua, who is a village government official, said his family owned seven such huts that brought in monthly income of more than 2,000 yuan (US$322), but he decided to remove all them as an example to others in the village.
“It is true that the huts blocked fire escape passages, and fire engines couldn’t reach the center of the village,” said Meng.
Gradually, the illegal structures were torn down. In three months, 728 shacks were razed and 1,600 migrants were resettled to other accommodation.
Making an example
Under the reform, unlicensed markets and restaurants also were closed, and a sewage system, roads and fireproof facilities were installed. Security guards began patrolling around the clock to prevent petty crime. The village now looks like a respectable neighborhood.
“The ultimate problem of removing ‘in-town-villages’ is the relocation of migrant residents,” said Yao. “I hope the district government will favor us with more help in education, employment, medical care and low-cost housing opportunities.”
Meanwhile, in the Gumei community, reform has taken on a merrier note. Residents are being encouraged to plant and tend flower gardens in their neighborhoods.
“Most of our residents were farmers before moving here,” said Yin Yin, an official with the community. “So they really like the idea of planting things.”
About 50 residents have banded together to form a gardening team. Their efforts have produced a nursery to supply other residents with plants.
“Our current project is planting sunflowers,” said resident Zhang Sanyuan. “Twelve families take turns caring for the gardens. We did a lot of research to learn how to grow these plants better.”
Other towns in Minhang, such as Wujing and Jiangchuan, are surveying residents on what projects they would like to see in their communities under “Top Agenda.”
Zhao Qi, the Party leader of the Minhang District, said the key point of the program is to change the way government approaches local needs.
“The government needs to focus on public services, efficient management and adequate security alongside just economic development,” he said.
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