In the context of its Residential District Councils initiative and in collaboration with its strategic partners, the Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM) is moving ahead with its distinguished community-oriented practice of meeting residents at their own domiciles. Recently the ADM held an educative council for female residents of Shelaila as part of the efforts of the municipal system to maintain the health & safety of the community & the environment, besides improving the gorgeous appearance of the capital city and suburban areas. The move is also intended to step up the communal participation with the aim of nurturing sound social, health and environmental values, and opening communication channels with citizens in order to heed to their suggestions & views towards improving the quality of living and the level of services across the board.
Shelaila Ladies Council aimed at screening the views & needs of residents, educating them about the importance of maintaining the beautiful appearance of the city, and stressing to them the importance of avoiding & combating negative and vandalism practices. It also sought to encourage ladies take a proactive role in the community and sensitize them about the importance of imparting this value in their children. The Municipality sought to deliver these messages via several specialist lectures & workshops held during the council hosted by the family of Nasir Abdou Rabou Al Helali at Shelaila.
Suggestions and demands voiced by ladies in attendance focused on the importance of uplifting the caliber of services and public facilities, besides improving the infrastructure to cope up with the demographic growth and development seen by Shelaila & residential neighbourhood.
At the top of their demands was the upgrading of internal roads, improving street lighting, and the opening of local pharmacies.
They also asked for providing more entry and exit points for the city such that residents can smoothly access or exit the city without engaging in snarls as well as addressing associated traffic safety concerns up to the required standards.
It is noteworthy that the ADM is adopting a year-long educative program covering residential district councils, municipal forums (Multaqa), and a variety of events. Through these events, the ADM is intending to raise the public awareness about the importance of combating disfiguring practices, and promoting communal participation such that community members will work hand-in-hand with government entities towards maintaining the appearance of the city and nurturing a clean & healthy environment. Such events will also avail the ADM the opportunity to source the exact needs of residents and communicate them to the concerned bodies for further consideration.