By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 15: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday delivered a message that went beyond policy, funding, and infrastructure—a message distilled into a single word: kindness.
Addressing officials during the inauguration of the Nongstoin C&RD block office, the Chief Minister reminded government staff that governance is not defined by buildings or designations, but by how people are treated at the point of service.
“Don’t think your job is small or big… You have a responsibility. In fact, we all do,” he said, before pausing on what he described as the essence of public service.
“Kindness! Please be kind to the poor people. That is 50% of the work done,” he said.
In a system often weighed down by procedures, hierarchy, and daily pressures, the Chief Minister’s words placed the focus on the human experience of governance, especially for those who arrive at government offices from distant villages, uncertain and often unheard. “Even if you are having a bad day, there is no reason that the poor person coming from the village needs to suffer or bear the brunt of what you may be going through,” he said.
He emphasised that empathy is not an add-on but central to effective administration. “If you can be kind to the people who come here, I would say that 50% of our work or responsibility is achieved… being nice, considerate and having a desire to help can make all the difference,” he added, noting that kindness alone could define the quality of governance at the Nongstoin block.
The sentiment, though simple, resonates deeply with a reality often spoken about quietly—in homes, among families, and in conversations that rarely make it into official records. Many people, particularly from rural areas, have long voiced discomfort at the way they are treated in government spaces, from offices to hospitals.
While such concerns may not always be formally documented, they form a lived experience—of hesitation before approaching a counter, of being unsure how to ask, of feeling dismissed in systems meant to serve.
The Chief Minister’s appeal, in that sense, does not introduce a new policy but acknowledges a gap that exists between service delivery and human interaction. It also expands the definition of governance from one that builds infrastructure to one that builds trust.
Because as much as roads, buildings and schemes shape development, it is the everyday exchange between a citizen and a public servant that defines the state in the eyes of its people.
