One marker of decline in community spirit is lack of respect for the commons. There was rampant encroachment of open spaces. The residents complained of lack of social interaction among neighbours. The process of filtering has been taking place whereby property was being passed high income groups into the hand of low income groups. Now the panch had no income and the amenities were deteriorating. The following problems were reported:

• alcoholism

• marriage of boys was reported as a problem. The brides do not want to come and live in the traditional pol.

It was found that the following activities were still going on:

• The chabutara was functioning. The grain was bought with the old passbook. People had emotional attachment with the place.
• The old mandals were not functioning but some collective activities go on, like organizing bhavai performance.

Attempts are being made by the municipal bodies and civil society groups to revive the pol areas of Ahmedabad. The questions at stake are complex and they require a detailed and participatory planning process to address the issues that are involved in the revival of these traditional neighbourhoods.

A neighbourhood dog in a traditional neighbour hood