Christmas boon for the rural unemployed

SHILLONG: Unemployment is a major concern in the rural areas of the State where people are mainly dependent on agriculture but come the season of Christmas, the inconsistent income of the farmers gets a temporary boost thanks to the sale of branches/pinnacle of the pine trees.
Homes, shops and shopping malls are all adorned with Christmas trees (which are usually pines in this part of the country) thus surging the demand for pine trees.
In recent times people have also started using the artificial Christmas tree, but majority still prefers to decorate their houses with the pine pinnacle.
Most of the pine trees that are sold in the city are brought from Thangsning in Smit village and the rates depend on the size and shape of the trees.
A good selection of pine trees can fetch from anything between Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 each. “We are poor people and selling these pine trees help us a lot during the winter month when there are no farming activities,” an old lady selling pine trees said.
The sellers, however, are concerned over the fact that artificial pine trees are flooding the market thus affecting their business.