SOHRA: Khliehshnong in Sohra would record huge footfall of tourists at Noh Ka Likai waterfall in the preCOVID time. But today, the local economy is choking under the lockdown. The village, which mostly thrived on tourism, is among the popular tourist sites in the state which are suffering a body blow as the sector looks to remain in the red indefinitely. Sitting in his office close to the Sohra market, headman of Khliehshnong Dr S Kharwanlang described to The Shillong Times the problems of the locals. “Most of the people here survive on tourism and with business closed, the amount of loss would account to lakhs of rupees. Switching to another means of livelihood such as stone quarrying, sand mining may be tough for men but it is certainly not a cakewalk for women,” said the headman, adding, “Women are facing problems.
Some of them worked in home-stays which are now closed.” Tourism had already suffered owing to the protests against citizenship bill and the communal flare-up at Ichamati early in March. The healthcare crisis has only put the final nail in the coffin. Many locals are selling vegetables or food items as an alternative, Kharwanlang said. Those who were in coal business before the NGT ban on mining had shifted to tourism, building homestays and eateries. With the pandemic, another change of course awaits for them.
Khliehshnong has a population of 4,000 with over 900 households. There are many salaried people too who are under equal financial pressure. Davilian Nongkynrih, a warden at RKM Sohra, said many people are facing hardships. On her part, she has stopped taking tuition although she is getting salary from RKM. “There are many who are without work and especially women are facing problems,” she said. She has a son who is waiting for his HSSLC Arts results. Some of the residents are engaged in transporting sand, stone in pick-up trucks within the jurisdiction of Khliehshnong.
Kharwanlang said the Dorbar Shnong is applying for passes for the pick-up trucks “only within the jurisdiction of Khliehshnong”. So far 18 pick-up trucks have been registered to ply from Monday to Saturday. Though the main market remains closed on days of restrictions roadside vendors and a few tea stalls are allowed to run business provided they maintain social distancing. “Not more than 10 customers are allowed in a stall,” the headman said.
Help for the poor
Kharwanlang said the Shnong gets immense help from the Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) Sohra, besides the public representatives He said the Dorbar Shnong has extended help to the poor and needy families as they keep a certain amount of rice meant for the poor and if people come to the Rangbah Dong for help, the Dorbar can use the rice kept aside for people’s aid. As for the schemes for people, an official said government schemes were announced through village heads and unemployment schemes were also announced wherein more than 10,000 applications were submitted from East Khasi Hills alone. K Blah, who was selling dry fish in Sohra market, said she “cannot afford to go to the bank as it will cost me Rs 100 in a car and Rs 50 by bus”. The woman from Laitkynsew village is a job card holder and is unaware of government schemes. “The government said it will give this and that but the ground reality is that there is nothing,” she said. Wanrihun Hynniewta, who sells bakery items, said the profit is low as compared to the pre-lockdown days.
Quarantine
RKM Sohra has set up a quarantine centre where 14 persons from the locality stayed during the Bethany Hospital incident. “But only seven of them got supply of essential commodities (from the government) and that too once,” said Kharwanlang. A government official said the centre is not set up by the government and that RKM is helping the villagers. “Also, for 14-day quarantine, the supply, which includes 10kg of rice, is once. Probably, others were missed because at that time the government got busy with the returnees and the focus shifted,” he added. The village is expecting about 20 returnees, all students, from south India and they will be put up at the RKM facility “because all of them live in small houses”, Kharwanlang informed. The Dorbar discourages home quarantine.