Eliciting community-driven sustainability indicators: a survey-based study in Aizawl, Mizoram, India

Sustainable community indicators are crucial for tracking progress towards sustainability goals. Public participation in indicator selection ensures that these metrics align with community values and priorities. This study investigated the effectiveness of public participation in identifying sustainable community indicators through an open-ended survey conducted in Aizawl, Mizoram, India. Employing qualitative method of content analysis, the study revealed that public involvement significantly enhanced community engagement and awareness of sustainability issues. The result showed that public participation in the selection of sustainable community indicators was effective in increasing community engagement and awareness of sustainability issues and that open-ended questionnaire allow the participants to express their opinions in their own terms without bias or being constrained by predetermined answers. While the survey aimed to elicit specific indicators, participants predominantly shared detailed descriptions of their ideal sustainable community. Despite the qualitative nature of the data, key themes emerged, including unity, learning institutions, safe environment, and waste management. This research contributes to the understanding of community-driven indicator development by demonstrating the value of public input in shaping sustainability assessments. By incorporating diverse perspectives, this approach can lead to more comprehensive and locally relevant sustainability frameworks.