BLITAR – The Blitar Ngobras Forum has become a key platform for dialogue between city officials and young residents, as the local government encourages direct public input on urban development.
The initiative, launched by the Blitar city administration in East Java, invites young people to share ideas, criticism, and proposals for the future of the city.
Blitar Mayor Syauqul Muhibbin, widely known as Mas Ibin, said the forum aims to give young residents a space to speak openly about issues affecting the city.
“We want young people to have a platform to express their aspirations and ideas about Blitar,” he said during a recent session of the discussion forum.
The Ngobras Forum, short for Ngobrol Santai or casual conversation, takes place regularly and focuses on gathering community perspectives, especially from the younger generation.
City officials plan to hold the discussions weekly or monthly to maintain consistent communication between the government and local youth.
According to the mayor, the forum also allows residents to voice criticism directly to the city leadership.
He stressed that open discussion creates more constructive dialogue than anonymous criticism on social media.
“Be brave in criticizing,” Muhibbin said. “It is better to criticize me directly than through anonymous accounts online. Meeting face to face leads to better conversations.”
Through the Blitar Ngobras Forum, the city government hopes to collect ideas that can guide future development policies.
Officials expect proposals from young participants to help shape policies across several sectors, including education, trade, tourism, arts, and culture.
The program reflects the city’s broader effort to involve younger generations in policymaking and strengthen community participation in shaping Blitar’s future.