SHILLONG, Oct 30: Meghalaya has stepped up preparations for the population enumeration phase of Census 2027, with senior officials calling for stronger public awareness and coordinated efforts to ensure comprehensive coverage across the state.
The preparations were reviewed at a state-level conference of Principal Census Officers and senior government officials at the Meghalaya State Guest House in Taraghar, Shillong, on October 29. Chief Secretary Shakil P Ahammed chaired the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Commissioners, District Census Officers, members of the State Level Census Coordination Committee and other officials.
Addressing the conference, Ahammed emphasised that census figures were essential for planning and implementing government welfare programmes. He urged district administrations to intensify awareness campaigns so that residents understood the importance of the exercise and participated actively.
State Census Nodal Officer Pooja Pandey highlighted the role of digital technology in the upcoming census, saying it would facilitate data compilation while enhancing accuracy and security. She also stressed the need to engage grassroots administrative institutions in disseminating information about the exercise.
Vrushali Abhijit Warade, Deputy Registrar General at the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, explained the census process in detail, including the concepts covered and questions included in the questionnaire.
Warade described the Census of India as the world’s largest administrative exercise and said the Centre would extend financial and technical support to Meghalaya to conduct the enumeration.
Officials from the Directorate of Census Operations, Meghalaya, also delivered presentations on different aspects of the census.
Concluding the conference, Deputy Director Aibor Sanglyne called on district-level officials to take proactive steps to maximise coverage during the population enumeration phase.
