SHILLONG: The ongoing pandemic has compelled many people like filmmaker Commander Shangpliang to find survival strategies in the face of the crisis.
Shangpliang, who is also the president of the Hill Farmers’ Association, has been selling vegetables and fruits since April 1 in various localities. Speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, the director of 9 Lad said he takes the essentials around the city in his car.
“I was relaxing till March 30 and then realised that something needs to be done. So I thought about this alternative,” he added.
With all film shoots cancelled, it has become difficult for regional filmmakers, who usually work with small budget, to survive.
On Tuesday, Shangpliang’s car was stationed at Laban Last Stop selling oranges from Nongjrong. He sources vegetables and fruits from farmers in rural areas. “These oranges are the last lot of the season and are priced at Rs 20 each,” he said, adding that it would be a different locality the next day.
Admitting that oranges from Nagpur are flooding the local market and the state government is barely helping poor farmers here, Shangpliang said prices of local farm produce should have been less had there been some support from the authorities.
The Agriculture Department has said it would extend all support to farmers to carry out agriculture and market their produce.
Allfondbirth Kharsyntiew, along with other members of the Hill Farmers’ Association, is also taking the mobile vegetable shop around the city and even delivering on the doorstep.