Editor,
Census data is an integral and crucial factor towards understanding the needs and requirements of each and every household based on age, gender, income, race, etc. All government policies, programmes and processes are based on census data. This collected data is the foundational mother of all data. It is imperative that each and every household pro-actively and truthfully informs the census operators about their assets and liabilities so that future government policies and processes be delivered precisely and effectively. We must understand and educate ourselves and our neighbours that this data collection is not meant to infringe upon our privacy; rather it is meant to delve deeply into what we have and what we don’t, to further empower us in the near future.
Let me cite a scenario – The head of a particular household responds to the census enumerator that he/she has a 3-room kutcha house although in reality, he/she lives in a 2 rooms or less kutcha house. Perhaps the inaccurate response was to protect one’s self-respect. Generally, there is nothing harmful with this over statement. But during a census data enumeration, this inaccurate response will ultimately lead this particular household to being deprived of receiving a PMAY(G) grant of Rs.1.3 lakhs, since PMAY(G) guidelines excludes households having 3 rooms or more from receiving the grant. This 2027 Census rule is no different.
On a sub context however, I would like to draw the attention of the government to a particular aspect – who collects census data? It is a known fact that the collection of data or enumeration as it is officially termed, has to be structured and meticulous and must include the best human resources to execute such a task. And that human resource is teachers. Most likely this group of educated human resource was the most viable option in the earlier days. Meanwhile, the teaching role is being substituted by the census enumeration role. Let’s ask ourselves, if our children’s future can be substituted or compromised in an age where the education sector is struggling with foundational learning, high drop-out rates and a vast employability gap?
Currently there are about 22% literate unemployed youth. Can we not put a portion of these 22% literate unemployed youth to good use by training them to become census operators? Not only will these youth be benefiting financially, but this practice will have a positive collateral impact on society. This exercise may perhaps be reciprocated in future need-based government processes as well.
Yours etc.,
Roplang Kharmalki,
Shillong – 5
Concerts, Chaos or Calm?
Editor,
As Shillong steps into a growing concert economy, the conversation around audience etiquette inevitably leads to a more uncomfortable question, what does this reveal about our civic sense?
Concerts are, in many ways, a microcosm of society. The same habits that show up in daily life, disregard for public spaces, lack of accountability, and casual indifference to others, become amplified in crowded, high energy environments. Pushing through crowds, blocking views with phones, or leaving behind litter are not isolated actions, they are reflections of a deeper, everyday mindset. At times, a subtle distance toward visitors can quietly replace the warmth that places like Shillong are so beautifully known for. But this is also a moment to choose differently, to be remembered not for hesitation, but for openness. Unlike the often impersonal reputation associated with cities like Delhi, Shillong has the opportunity to define itself through kindness that is visible, consistent, and felt. A tourist who feels welcomed, helped when stranded, or simply treated with respect carries that story far beyond the hills. Word of mouth travels faster than any campaign, quietly shaping how the world sees a place. Thinking from a global perspective rather than a narrow one, every small act of civic sense becomes an investment not only in culture, but in the city’s own growing economy.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be like this everywhere. At the Hornbill Festival, the same energy exists, but it’s tempered by awareness and courtesy that makes the experience truly enjoyable. The crowds are just as vibrant, the music just as alive, yet people move with care, spaces are kept clean, and there is a shared understanding that the experience belongs to everyone, not just the individual. It is not enforced, it is practiced.
Somewhere along the way, we have perfected the art of blaming the government for everything, as if governance alone defines public life, forgetting that when one finger points outward, three quietly point back asking a far simpler question, how are we behaving when no one is watching? Civic sense is not about strict rules or constant supervision, it is about an internalised discipline. It shows up in how people behave when there are no immediate consequences, when accountability is not imposed but chosen.
The rise of larger events in Shillong brings with it an opportunity, but also a responsibility. Infrastructure can be built, stages can be set, but culture is shaped by people, for the people, and unfortunately, no ministry has announced a “Basic Concert Behaviour Yojana” yet. We are quick to blame the government for everything from traffic to the weather, but somehow expect them to also manage our elbows in a crowd and magically teleport our trash into bins. One finger points at the system, three point back asking a far more uncomfortable question, are we here to enjoy the music, or audition for chaos?
The question is no longer whether Shillong is ready for bigger concerts, but whether its audience is ready to match the kind of civic sense that allows such experiences to truly thrive. Ultimately, a city’s reputation is shaped by its people, not its government, and right now it is quietly defined by how we behave in public spaces. Chaos may feel thrilling, but it leaves a mark, and every careless moment at a concert, changes how visitors experience Shillong. The question now rests with the locals, how will Shillong be remembered, as a place that celebrates music and community, or as one where disorder overshadows the experience?
Your’s etc,
Shivani Pde
Via email
