Arunachal Pradesh’s Pasighat Mistakenly Labeled as Chinese Town in Census Portal

In a surprising turn of events, the self-enumeration portal for the ongoing Census in India mistakenly identified Pasighat, a historic town in Arunachal Pradesh, as Medog, a town in China. This error was initially highlighted by Mohonto Panging Pao, a retired Indian Air Force officer and resident of Pasighat, who took to social media to express his concerns over the territorial misrepresentation.

Pao, while attempting to complete the self-enumeration process, encountered the mistake and shared a screenshot that displayed the coordinates for Pasighat labeled incorrectly as ‘Medog, Pasighat.’ He emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, suggesting that the misrepresentation of Indian territories was a serious matter that warranted immediate attention. Pasighat, known for its rich cultural heritage, is the oldest town in Arunachal Pradesh, while Medog is located across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in China.

In response to the public outcry, officials from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner’s office stated that they had engaged with the map services provider to rectify the error. Within hours of the incident being reported, the authorities confirmed that the issue had been resolved, restoring the correct name to the town on the census portal.

This incident reflects broader concerns about territorial integrity and the significance of accurate representation in national platforms, especially amid ongoing tensions between India and China. Pao’s observations underline the importance of vigilance in matters regarding national identity, especially in regions like Arunachal Pradesh that have faced border challenges.

The Census 2027, which includes house listing that began on April 1 and will run until September, is a crucial process for demographic data collection in the country. Ensuring that every detail is accurately reflected is paramount, as the information gathered will play a significant role in planning and resource allocation in the coming years. This incident, albeit rectified, serves as a reminder of the need for careful oversight in official government platforms and the potential ramifications of geographical inaccuracies.

Source: scroll.in