SHILLONG: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has dismissed concerns regarding the involvement of teachers in the upcoming census operations, clarifying that the task has been structured to ensure it does not interfere with their primary academic responsibilities.
Addressing the opposition from certain quarters, Tynsong emphasized that the first phase of the enumeration process is calculated to last only 30 days, a timeframe the government believes is manageable and not “overloaded.”
The Deputy Chief Minister explained that the scheduling of the census work offers significant flexibility, allowing teachers to conduct house-to-house visits for two to four hours after school hours.
He noted that the process is straightforward, involving the completion of prescribed forms and explaining the requirements to citizens. To streamline the effort, teachers will work in coordination with traditional heads and Rangbah Shnong to cover approximately four to five households per day within their designated villages.
In a move to recognize the additional effort required for the month-long exercise, Tynsong announced that the state government will provide a financial incentive to the participating teachers. He confirmed that a lump sum bonus ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 will be paid to those engaged in the enumeration.
Tynsong further assured that the deployment of teachers is being handled with administrative oversight and local consultation.
The Block Development Officers (BDOs), acting as the in-charge officers for their respective blocks, will only issue formal engagement orders after thorough consultation with the Rangbah Shnong, school managing committees, and the concerned departments.
By integrating local leadership and school management into the planning phase, the government aims to ensure a smooth rollout of the census without disrupting the educational ecosystem.
