Guwahati, Sept 30: Despite being a top tourist destination, Shillong is lagging in urban governance due to numerous reasons, according to the latest Urban Governance Index (UGI) 2024 report by the Praja Foundation. The report on “Urban Governance Index(UGI) 2024 prepared by Praja Foundation has pointed out the reasons for Shillong ranking low in urban governance. The quality of urban governance is the most important factor for the eradication of poverty and prosperous cities.
Good urban governance is outcome-oriented and promotes the rights of all people by ensuring that all urban residents reap the benefits of urbanization.
The UGI is built over four themes- (i) Empowered City Elected Representatives and Legislative Structure, (ii) Empowered City Administration, (iii) Empowered Citizens and iv) Fiscal Empowerment.
Praja Foundation has been working towards enabling accountable governance
for more than 25 years and conducts data-driven research on civic issues to inform citizens, media, and government administration ranked 29th out of 31 cities, Shillong’s UGI score of 21.53 highlights critical shortcomings in empowering city officials, administrative structures, and citizens. The absence of a functioning elected body is a major issue, as the last Shillong Municipal Board elections were held in 1968.
The report emphasizes that municipal elections must be conducted urgently to establish a democratically elected municipal body. Meghalaya has The Meghalaya Municipal Act, 1973 for the constitution of city governments. “There is no elected body in Shillong and municipal elections should be held at the earliest possible time to have a democratically functional municipality. The last elections of the Shillong municipal board were held in 1968 and there is an overlap between the traditional institutes of
governance and the provisions in the Act.
Therefore, there is resistance of local tribal communities for conducting elections,” the report says. “There is resistance from local tribal communities, largely due to the overlap between traditional governance institutions and the provisions in the Meghalaya Municipal Act, 1973,” the report noted.
Citizen engagement in Shillong is mostly driven through traditional institutions like the Durbar Shnongs, led by Rangbah Shnongs (headmen). While these systems play a role, the absence of key urban functions under municipal authority—such as planning, sanitation, and public health—further weakens governance. Meghalaya is the only state where the City Government holds the authority to revise existing tax rates but cannot levy new taxes independently.
The report also highlights a lack of transparency, calling for the establishment of open data portals and digital grievance redressal systems. Notably, Meghalaya is the only state where the Municipal Act does not mandate external audits for city governments, an essential tool for financial accountability.
The report recommends devolving all 18 functions listed in the 12th Schedule of the 74th Constitutional Amendment to the city government. Holding recruitment authority, ensuring proper training for municipal employees, and forming key deliberative committees are essential steps to strengthen governance.
As Shillong continues to grow, addressing these governance gaps will be critical to ensuring the city can meet the needs of its population and maintain its status as a key hub in North East India.
