These shops in Mizoram dont have keepers
Stop, shop and pay; what counts is honesty
AIZAWL, Dec 3: Shops with cashiers at the front and people making a beeline at
the cash counters is a common sight in a shop, but ever saw a shop where there
are no shopkeeper? Shops without keepers have become very popular among the
people here, who trudge long distances to purchase articles and pay with
honesty not seen even in manned shops.
Located amidst the lush green forests, about 70 km from here, between Seling
and Keifang villages, the shops have been one of the main attractions of weary
travellers on this route.
It takes more than seven hours of bone-rattling drive from Aizawl to reach the
areas on the northeastern fringes of Mizoram, bordering Manipur.
However, one can not resist to buy some fresh green vegetables, fruits or eggs
along the route at various Nghahloh Dawr, which means shop without a keeper.
One of such shops owned by 29-year-old Vanlaldika, a farmer who resides with
his wife and children in a nearby village, has become his main source of
livelihood for the past three years.
Every morning Vanlaldika arranges all the vegetables in his shop, keeps a small
box there and leaves for his garden about a kilometre away from the place.
People who cross the area drop in to purchase the fresh vegetables and put the
desired amount into the box.
No one steals my vegetables. I fix the rates and place a small cardboard near
the items. People often halt here to pick the vegetables and fruits they want
to buy. They then put the money in the box before leaving, Vanladika told UNI.
In case they dont have change, they take it from the box, he added.
Most of the time I have to work in the vegetable gardens and I hardly have
time to sit in the shop. I get around Rs 400-500 per day, he averred.
He further said, This highway is my market. I dont go to any local market.
Asked upon the possibility of the money being stolen, Vanladika said, People
have become more honest nowadays, nobody steals the money. It had occurred only
once in the past three years.
Many a time the travellers have been very generous and I often get more money
than what my fruits and vegetables are worth, he said adding that the area had
become more peaceful.
Like Vanlaldika, 45-year-old Mawia had also been the symbol of simple faith
upon humanity .
He trusts all those who flock to his shop, enough to leave it open for them to
pick up what they want and drop the money into the bowl of faith.
We are proud of him. Mawia keeps himself busy looking after his ailing mother.
He just opens his shop and then makes his way to his house for various work,
Lalrinsanga said as he picked up some eggs and biscuits from the shop,
calculated the cost and dropped Rs 20 into the money box.
Additional Superintendent of Police Lalrenmauna said recalling his visit this
unmanned shop that, we picked up some corns and oranges. One of our policemen
didnt have five rupees change, who finally discounted himself. UNI
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