remunerated on an hourly basis with soloists earning rs 600 for an hour of performance and bands rs 2400 railway officials initially expressed concerns over security and confusion in an already chaotic space but after our pilot project at churchgate station with street folk musicians they saw how these performances could actually absorb some of the tension and calm the mad energy explained jessica noronha project coordinator for nspa getting different departments to coordinate was a challenge luckily one of the senior officers in the western railways had worked in london and appreciated the benefits of a live music atmosphere he helped us with the approvalsbringing melody to meghalayafrom bazaars and busy road junctions to parks and waterfronts the streets of meghalaya are alive with the sound of music buskers to be precise and pearly amelia an 11yearold girl who can switch with ease from billie eilishs whispering vocals to astrid ss pop hits is perhaps one of the youngest star attractions impromptu street gigs seen as a public nuisance in other indian cities are being promoted in this northeastern state as an essential part of the experience and identity of its streets around 300 bands and soloists have been inducted into the ofcial music rolls since may last year as part of the meghalaya grassroots music project an initiative by the state tourism department