The role of citizen participation in sustainable development of urban areas (case study: Qaemshahr city)

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1 International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences 2013 Available online at ISSN X / Vol, 6 (7): Science Explorer Publications The role of citizen participation in sustainable development of urban areas (case study: Qaemshahr city) Seyeda Soheila Samiee Kashi 1, Gholamreza Janbaz Ghobadi 2 1. Master of Geography and Urban planning, Nour Branch, Islamic Azad University, Nour, Iran 2. Assistant Professor of Geography Group, Nour Branch, Islamic Azad University, Nour, Iran Corresponding Author gghobadi@yahoo.com, ABSTRACT : Today, in our times, human participation has been considered as a key to develop communities. And new urban plannings, instead of theoretical and cognitive issues, are more likely leading to practical plannings, implementations and participations. The intention of this survey is, recognizing the methods and procedures of participation planning in order to use the most of people s participation ability to develop the urban areas, And also have a check at the rate of citizen s partnership and their role in the development of Qaemshahr city. The main subject of this Research is the process of citizen s partnership in permanent development of urban areas of Qaemshahr city.the statistical population for this research includes the caretaker of families in the urban areas of Qaemshahr city, and by Using the Morgan Table, we selected a sample consisting of 380 households. A questionnaire was distributed at the communities. The method of analyzing is descriptive analytic. And for analyzing data in this survey we used SPSS in which for descriptive statistics evaluation, we used one-dimensional table and charts and for inferential statistics, according to variable evaluation, we used one sample t-test statistic for hypothesis test. The findings of this research indicate that, the citizen participation has such an outstanding role that by changing the approach in the city and urban areas planning, it would lead to an urban sustainable development. Keywords: participation, urban sustainable development, citizen, neighborhood, Urban neighborhood INTRODUCTION Studying the evolution of human societies, the development and improvement are obtained when human cooperate and participate during their life with each other. Participation is a set of attitudes, procedures and behaviors that make people to discuss and investigate the facts and conditions of their lives, so that they can plan what to do and they can find the results and evaluate them. (chambers and Blackburn, 6;p,1) so one of the participatory methods is citizen partnership in development. The city is at last belongs to all the citizens and wardens so that planners cannot act and decide instead of them.( moledan, 2002,p,128) In this matter, it is nessesary that power be distributed in urban public fields so that citizens can be directly engaged in city matters and find their roles as active citizens and feel more responsible in the aspect of urban problems. When citizens are involved in urban issues of whole city as a backbone, and they develop a sense of responsibility and making decisions, therefore it would be much easier for the wardens of the city to solve the urban problems. ( Journal of Council,2000) A neighborhood is also a social pyramid that makes the pillars of a bigger pyramid which is the city and it also contains other social elements of the city. Neighborhood is a social context and it includes a public discipline. A part of this public discipline is public duty and the other part of it, is insured by an efficient city governor. Overall, the feeling of belonging to a particular place increases one's feeling of responsibility towards preserving and retaining the social discipline of the neighborhood. And because of this, city governors have less problems towards this matter. (Mashhadizadeh Dehaghani, 9). Among industrial countries, France is one the successful countries in the discussion of participation subject. Statesmen of France(Prime Minister and Mayor ) have carried a program entitled neighborhood community development. The innovation of this program is the close cooperation between government and urban agencies and role of citizen in the process of city development.( Athari, 2002).

2 The subject of citizen participation in urban areas in third world countries such as Iran, due to low appropriate cooperation in both legal and social parts, still considers as a new phenomenon that has not been properly in right theoretical or practical position. It is essential to search for the forms of the participation in order to have more attention to sustainable development in urban areas.(yavar,2001). Participatory planning was introduced in 1940s by using people s opinion about the urban municipal comprehensive over Europe. And 1960s may be considers as the most important decade in formation of philosophical and theoretical issues involved in urban planning and participation.(moradi,2001). Azadi(2001) has come to results such as the importance of widespread public participation in planning, equipping, managing, implementing, maintenance and comprehensive public management assessing in his thesis named The role of participation in integrated management and sustainable development. And also Eyvazi Abdullahi (2005) have reached to this conclusions that there is a straight and positive relation among membership in organizations, more communicating with information resource incentives, council s view of training and advancement planning, council s technical knowledge in sustainable development and the severity of natural resources damage and environmental degradation in his thesis entitled Analysis of public organization participations in extension plannings toward permanent development. Hodseni (2006) indicates in his master s thesis which named urban structural-spatial improvement in urban permanent development( sample case Jolfa neighborhood), that creation of ethnic social networks as communities and urban groups and creating the necessary context for communication among residents can solve urban problems and improve environmental situation for residents, as an effective feedback.( (masomii, 2011). Since the most important gauge for a sustainable city, is creating mental and spiritual relaxation and providing citizen s needs, Therefore, in urban planning, planners should pay attention to ecological limitations, economical issues, social, life quality, cultural issues, moralities, gregariousness, social profit and loss, citizen political development and etc. And with today s emphasis on importance of public participation as a key strategy for sustainable development which occurs at any scale, it will be clear that the urban development can play a sustainable role.(khaksari, 2006). Research Objective Recognizing participation planning procedures and methods in order to maximize the ability of public s participation for urban planning development. Studying the rate of citizen participation and their role in Qaemshahr city development. Study Area In November 2006 s Census, Qaemshahr city had a population over 174,768 people and 48,055 households, was the fourth city in terms of population in Mazandaran after Sari, Babol, and Amol. The density population is 5,826 pesons per hectare in Qaemshahr city. Qaemshahr is divided to 3 zones, 9 districts and 34 urban neighborhoods. The most populous zone of Qaemshahr is zone 1 with a population of people and the most populated district with people is district 8 and 6330 people in neighborhood 24 is the most populated neighborhood.(detailed plans Qaemshahr. 2006) The statistical population for this research includes the caretaker of families in the urban areas of Qaemshahr city, and by Using the Morgan Table, we selected a sample consisting of 380 households. and they have answered A questionnaire which was distributed at the communities. Qeamshahr neighborhood boundaries are shown on Map NO. 1.

3 Figure1. METHODS AND PROCEDURES The method for analyzing is descriptive analytic and for data collection, field methods and equipment( preparing questionnaires, interviews and observations) and library me thods( fish collecting, books which are available in library, institutions, papers, magazines, etc) are used. And for analyzing data in this survey we used SPSS in which for descriptive statistics evaluation, we used one-dimensional table and charts and for inferential statistics, according to variable evaluation, we used one sample t-test statistic for hypothesis test. Research Findings In general of 380 questionnaires which were collected, based on the sex of the respondents, 195 were males and 185 were females. Also according to age, the highest number of respondents were between 31 and 35, and the lowest were above 36 years which included 47 persons. In terms of education, 40.5 percent had diploma, 3.9 percent had bachelor and higher, and 6.6% were illiterate. Classification based on marital status, 49 persons were singles and 331 persons were married. Table 1. number and percent distribution of citizen on a basis of context variables. citizen Context variables percent Number 51/3 195 male sex 48/7 185 female 87/6 333 Less than 36 years age 12/4 47 More than 36 years 6/6 25 illiterate education 40/5 154 diploma 3/9 15 Bachelor and higher Source: research findings Respondents assessment on citizen participation basis Base on respondent assessment in Qaemshahr city, which are shown in table number 2, among the statements, that are related to participation rate of citizens the highest average is statement 11 ( increasing role and cooperation with councils in neighborhood decision making) and the lowest was statement number 2 ( respondent tendency to direct partnership in decision making and neighborhood planning)

4 Standard deviation 1/4544 1/5490 1/3049 1/5276 1/4421 1/4864 1/3870 1/3812 1/4479 1/2825 1/1933 1/2305 Mean 3/18 2/89 3/04 3/15 2/96 3/23 3/18 3/14 3/20 3/46 4/03 3/60 Table 2. respondent assessment on citizen participation basis Scale (percent) Very high averag low Very Citizen participation high e low variable Being involved in providing urban 23/6 26/3 16/5 12/8 20/9 development plan 29 Decision making 21/9 21/2 4/10 17/5 participation Willingness to 13/ /2 22/2 14/8 attend the meetings Take responsibility 24/9 28/3 8/4 14/5 23/9 in data presenting Willing to have a 15/5 31/3 13/1 14/8 25/3 long term residency in neighborhood Cultural extension 29/3 19/9 13/5 19/9 17/5 Youth employment 20/ /8 20/2 15/5 support Monument and 18/9 26/9 24/2 9/4 20/5 symbol preservation of neighborhood Access fairness 21/5 30/6 14/8 12/8 20/2 Citizen training 21/9 35/7 21/9 7/7 12/8 Increasing 44/8 31/6 13/1 2/7 7/6 cooperation with councils Entity membership 40/7 25/6 3 15/2 15/5 tendency Source: research findings row According to table 2, positive respondents assessment in participation, indicates that participation for citizens is crystallized. And Qaemshahr s citizens are ready for participation and cooperation with urban planners but officials didn t provide much opportunities for them while if they did, citizen participation can be very effective in city development and improvement. Respondents assessment on urban sustainable development rate Base on respondent assessment in Qaemshahr city, which are shown in table number 3, among the statements, that are related to urban development participation rate, the highest average is statement 6 ( promote the citizen s social and economical database in training, income and employment matter over urban neighborhoods) and the lowest was statement number 1 (citizen income increase over neighborhoods) Standard Deviation 1/3812 1/4479 1/2825 1/3552 1/5204 1/1933 Table3. statement description related to urban sustainable development variables Scale (percent) Mean Very High Average Low Very Urban sustainable high low development variable Citizen income 3/14 18/9 26/9 24/2 9/4 20/5 increase Education level 3/20 21/5 30/6 14/8 12/8 20/2 improvement Youth proper 3/44 21/9 35/7 21/9 7/7 12/8 employment Approach changes 3/27 19/9 31/6 22/6 8/4 17/5 in development plans Citizen training in 3/60 40/7 25/6 3 15/2 15/5 provide process Promote the social 4/04 44/8 31/6 13/1 2/7 7/7 and economical base Resource: research findings row According to table number 3, positive respondents assessment in sustainable urban participation development, over the neighborhoods in Qaemshahr, is indicating that citizen income increasing does not affect the sustainable urban development individually. Yet, increasing the citizen s social and economical database Simultaneously in training, income and employment will be affective. Therefore if required training in

5 participation field are given to citizens, and employment and income improves, city will be closer to sustainable development. Respondents assessments on citizen participation basis, based on Districts Based on respondents evaluation in Qaemshahr districts, which are shown in table 4, rate of citizen participation in the first, second and third districts are more than the mean rate of participation in all districts and this rate in the ninth, eighth and seventh district was the lowest. F-test with the following significance level (0.05) indicates that there is a significant difference between citizen participation rate and respondents surveyed in nine districts. Table 4. comparison of the averages of participation rate components on district basis Significance Level Freedom Standard F Degree Deviation Mean Groups 0/3626 4/41 First district variable 0/ /3707 4/11 0/4495 4/00 0/5909 3/26 195/36 0/5364 3/18 0/4785 2/41 0/2690 1/78 0/3944 1/61 0/2722 1/42 1/0895 3/32 Resource : Research Findings Second district Third district Fourth district Fifth district Sixth district Seventh district Eighth district Ninth district Mean Citizen participatio n Thus, according to table 4, the reason of uneven vertical extent of citizen participation, is geographical matters of these districts. The first, second and third districts in the city are positioned in a good geographical situation and have a better economical, social and cultural situation. Facilities, such as security, green areas, sports halls, public libraries, parks, etc are available and people are pretty well educated. All these factors lead to people satisfaction and this has improved the rate of people s participation. But, on the contrary, district 7,8 and 9, are located in rail areas and because of that, does not have a good geographical situation and people in this area are in a rather poor situation of economical, social and cultural. Also the population is high and not having facilities such as : security, green areas, sport halls, public libraries, parks, etc, caused a dissatisfaction on people, so as a result they are not willing to participate. On map 2, the positions of districts and zones of Qaemshahr city are shown. Figure2.

6 In this matter, the results of one sample t-test has been confirmed the relations between citizen participation in Qaemshahr neighborhood and urban sustainable development as a significant relation. Table 5. results from t-test sample for studying citizen participation rate in neighborhoods Mean in 0.95 level Mean of Significance Freedom statistic variable Lower bound Upper bound Degree level degree T Citizen participation 3/19 3/44 3/32 0/ /53 rate Resource : Research Findings According to table 5, about the participation desirability in neighborhoods, the average of answered rating provided by statistical sample on Literk Type is 5. If we generalize this average to population, the respondent average will be in the range of 3.19 and Since the lower bound of this range is 3.19 and is more than the average limit(3), we can reason that the citizen participation rate in neighborhoods are desirable and also according to test satisfaction level, which is less than 0.05, the conclusion obtained is totally meaningful from statistical point of view. So, the null hypothesis will be rejected and the research hypothesis will be accepted. CONCLUSIONS According to this study, we have come to this result that the rate of citizen participation of Qaemshahr city is pretty good. Thus citizens feel responsible for their neighborhood and are trying to keep it. Also they want the security of their neighborhood and are interested in decision making and participating in plans which are made for the neighborhood s development. According to this survey the long living term has not had a big effect on participation. One of its reason can be, being un familiar with urbanization culture, uneven distribution in some neighborhoods, new buildings and lack of appropriate services. And in the participation subject, we have come to this result that most of the citizens are likely tend to participate. And this shows that participating for citizens is somehow a crystallization matter. On the other hand, the officials of the city, did not provide much opportunity for them. Some researchers have been working in this field, including Majla, he came to this conclusion in his survey about participation that citizen participation rate have an outstanding effect on planning, city development and improvement and urban management. ( taghva, 2011, p,305) In the participation aspect, the positive respondents results shows that most citizens believe that income increase does not affect sustainable development individually, but increasing the citizen s social and economical database Simultaneously in training, income and employment will be affective. Also, Hodseni s conclusion in his research is that, first of all the type of planning exists in the neighborhood which is being studied, is far from development rules and the progress approach will not lead to urban sustainable development. Secondly, the most important element in local development inefficiency in neighborhoods is, potentials, capacities and neighborhoods strengths s lack of understanding,and not strengthening and optimum directing them toward planning s problem solving. According to the conclusion obtained from this survey and others research, we reach to this result that, citizens participation rate has an outstanding effect on the success of city s planning, also city development and improvement, and assisting city management, and family s subsistence level improvement. One of the problems which Qaemshahr s officials are facing, is having little of budget allocation, lack of law enforcement and engineering approach for implementations, and also lack of citizens training courses. Recommendation According to research s findings and results, in order to have a more desirable participation between officials and citizens, the following items are suggested: Active use of public participation in decision making and implementation according to approved structure of Islamic council of the city, at community level. And subgroup formation such as: adults, youth and teens council, sport council and same groups, which must be done by city council. Keep neighborhoods clean, through their residents, health officials and city council cooperation. So, through a system of reward, punishment and monitoring from health centers, can lead us to the aim mentioned. To adapt cultures for residents self-participation, encourage and strengthen public participation in decision making and healthy living in neighborhood. Also it is city s authorities members duty to remove deficiency of the city. Creating places to full public s leisure time, in different ages such as : game locations, libraries, etc. The authorities should set an agenda considering the access distance.

7 Activate and formation of councils in neighborhood management approach, cooperation in preserving historic parts of the neighborhood, planning for neighborhoods specially rail neighborhoods so that it will be out of its static situation. REFERENCES Athar J municipal participation policy in metropolitan France, municipalities Journal, Number 37 Taghavi T "Evaluation of public participation in urban regeneration (Case Study worn tissue Qaemshahr) \" Proceedings of the National Conference on City Council, development, publishing methods, clear printing. Pages ( ) Jabbari H.9. Participation and Social Development, Social Development Symposium Proceedings of the Interior Ministry Khaksari A Book of urban neighborhoods, Publisher, Research Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, first published. Detailed design Qaemshahr.Feb Housing and Urban Development province. moledan B, Niylharz S Indicators for sustainable development, translation and confidential Haddad Tehrani Nejad, EPA masehii Moradi W notes in urban sociology, Tehran University of Science and Technology masomii S A neighborhood development order Tehran Metropolis, society and culture publication, printing - Dehaghani Mashhadi zadeh,. N. (9), an analysis of the characteristics of urban planning from Iran University of Science and Technology, Iran. Journal of Council.February 2000.councils and community councils, national needs and global context, a conversation with Dr. Parviz Piran, First Issue. Uavar B Participatory Urban Development and the Status of public participation in Iranian cities, Urban Studies MA thesis, University of Science and Technology, Tehran Chambers J, Blackburn W. 6. The scop for Effective Local Participation in The Economic Development and Planing of Rural Areas and Regious, Washington, U.S.A. Girardet H.2. The Gain Atlas of Cities New Directions for Sustionable Urban Living, First Pmblished, United Kindom, Rontledge