Teachers engaged for Meghalaya’s Census 2027 house-listing work could receive up to Rs 20,000, with the government assuring that classroom teaching will not be affected.
Shillong, May 7 : The Meghalaya government defended its decision to engage schoolteachers for the Census 2027 house-listing exercise, saying the work would be limited, carefully planned and would not affect classroom teaching or students’ studies.The clarification comes after opposition from the Jaintia National Council (JNC), Khliehriat Circle, which raised concerns over the deployment of teachers for census-related duties.
Speaking to reporters on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the first phase of the Census 2027 exercise had been designed in a way that would minimise disruption to schools.According to Tynsong, the house-listing process is expected to continue for only around 30 days and teachers would not be required to spend full working days on the assignment.He explained that teachers posted in their respective villages or nearby areas could carry out the work after school hours for about two to four hours daily in coordination with local traditional heads and Rangbah Shnongs.
“The workload will not be excessive,” Tynsong said, adding that the work mainly involves collecting household information through prescribed census forms.He stated that enumerators would only need to cover a limited number of households each day, making the assignment manageable alongside regular teaching responsibilities.The deputy chief minister also said the government intends to provide financial compensation to teachers engaged in the exercise.
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According to Tynsong, those assigned for the month-long work are likely to receive a lump sum payment ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000.He further clarified that the census operation is not being conducted solely at the initiative of the state government. He pointed out that Block Development Officers (BDOs) of the respective areas are officially in charge of the process.He maintained that the engagement of teachers would happen only after consultations with school managing committees, Rangbah Shnongs and the concerned departments.
Formal orders, he said, would be issued only after the consultation process is completed.The government’s clarification follows objections raised by the Jaintia National Council (JNC), Khliehriat Circle, which recently submitted a representation to the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills and the Principal Census Officer.
In its memorandum, the organisation urged authorities to halt the deployment of schoolteachers for the Census 2027 house-listing work.The JNC argued that assigning teachers to non-academic duties could negatively affect the education of tribal students and weaken classroom teaching during the academic session.The organisation also cited the spirit of the Right to Education Act, 2009, maintaining that schools should not face disruptions that may affect student learning or pupil-teacher ratios.
According to the JNC, while census work may legally permit the engagement of teachers, such assignments should not result in empty classrooms or reduced academic attention for students.The organisation further questioned why teachers were being chosen for the exercise despite the availability of central funds allocated specifically for Census 2027 operations.It argued that the decision appeared to be based more on administrative convenience than actual necessity.
As an alternative, the JNC suggested that local civilian enumerators could instead be appointed to carry out the work, allowing teachers to remain focused on classroom responsibilities.The issue has now sparked wider discussion over the balance between administrative requirements and the functioning of schools, especially in rural and tribal areas where teacher shortages already remain a concern.
For the state government, the challenge will be ensuring that the census process moves forward smoothly without affecting the quality of education or increasing pressure on teachers.At the same time, organisations such as the JNC continue to push for greater protection of classroom teaching time, arguing that education should remain a top priority.
With consultations expected to continue in the coming weeks, the debate over the role of teachers in Census 2027 operations is likely to remain an important public issue across Meghalaya.
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