[Assam] Shops don’t have keepers..

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*These shops in Mizoram don't 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 don't 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 don't 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 didn't have five rupees change, who finally discounted himself."
UNI
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