Price of tomorrow: Living hand-to-mouth in Shillong
Every day begins with uncertainty, said Riban Kharshiing, a daily wage labourer, against the backdrop of dark clouds over Mawlai. Some mornings he finds work carrying construction materials or helping at building sites. On other days, he returns home empty-handed.
“If there’s no work, there’s no income,” he said. “But the expenses don’t stop. We still have to buy rice, vegetables and pay the electricity bill.”
Supporting a family of five, he says rising prices have made it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
“Earlier, we could buy groceries for a week. Now we buy only enough for a day or two because we don’t know when the next income will come,” he said. “We have stopped buying anything that isn’t necessary.”
His experience mirrors that of many daily wagers across Shillong, where every day without work means another day of difficult choices.
Aman Sinha, a ‘pani puri’ and ‘chaat’ vendor, watched the sky with growing concern. With rain looming and summer vacations approaching, he feared another slow day of business.
For Aman, rainfall is more than a change in weather. It is a threat to his livelihood.
A single rainy day can drastically reduce customer turnout, cutting into earnings that are already unpredictable.
Our conversation revealed a reality shared by many workers in Shillong. Unlike salaried employees, who receive a fixed monthly income, thousands depend on daily sales, customer demand and favourable weather conditions to make a living. For them, uncertainty is a part of everyday life.
According to statistics from the Meghalaya Planning Department (2018), only about 30 to 35 per cent of Shillong’s workforce is employed in fixed salaried jobs. The remaining workforce relies largely on informal or self-employed occupations where earnings fluctuate from month to month.
The high cost of
living in Shillong
The challenges of irregular income are compounded by Shillong’s high cost of living. Compared to Kolkata, the city is estimated to be 15 to 20 per cent more expensive.
Housing is one of the clearest examples. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Kolkata typically costs between Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000 per month, while a similar accommodation in Shillong can cost anywhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000.
Daily necessities are also more expensive, largely because many goods must be transported into the state from outside. For families with unstable incomes, these higher costs create constant financial pressure.
Aman earns roughly Rs 30,000 a month, though his income varies significantly depending on factors beyond his control, including school holidays, weather conditions and customer footfall. To manage expenses, he purchases ingredients in bulk whenever possible, yet meeting monthly obligations remains difficult.
“We need to pay the house rent, buy ration and also pay the distributor we buy from, but sometimes it gets tougher if we have less business,” he said.
At present, Aman is trying to save enough money to buy a new phone for his younger brother, a goal that remains uncertain amid mounting expenses.
Running a household
on a small business
The burden of rising prices is also felt by Zarine Shadap, a young shop owner in Dhankheti. Inside her small neighbourhood store, customers come and go throughout the day. Yet behind the busy counter lies a constant struggle to keep the household running.Zarine and her mother are the sole earners in their family, relying entirely on the shop’s income.
On average, the business generates around Rs 10,000 a month. With several family members depending on that income, every increase in the price of essentials makes household budgeting more difficult.
As food, fuel and other necessities become more expensive, Zarine finds herself constantly balancing competing needs. Like many households in Shillong, her family has had to reconsider spending habits and prioritise only the most essential purchases.
Everyday essentials becoming more expensive
The impact of inflation is particularly visible in the prices of everyday food items. A litre of milk costs approximately Rs 61.33 in Shillong compared to Rs 55.74 in Kolkata. Similarly, a dozen eggs costs around Rs 85.71 in Shillong, higher than Kolkata’s Rs 80.23.
While these differences may appear modest, they add up significantly over time for households living on tight budgets.
As prices continue to rise, many families are being forced to cut back. Items that were once purchased regularly every week or even daily are now bought less frequently. Small adjustments in consumption have become a necessary strategy for managing household finances.
Making ends meet despite rising costs
Further down the city on Keating Road, mechanic Sabbir Ahmed echoed similar concerns. Although he earns between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 a month, six family members depend on the income generated by just two earners in the household. Rising costs have forced the family to reduce spending on a range of necessities.
Sabbir pointed to increasing prices of milk, curd, paneer, cooking gas and petrol as major concerns.
“If this continues, gas and petrol would become a luxury and only for the rich,” he said.
His words reflect a growing anxiety among many residents who worry that essential goods and services are gradually becoming less affordable.
Inflation beyond the numbers
For Shillong’s residents who rely on fluctuating incomes, the challenge is not merely earning enough money. It is keeping pace with ever-rising expenses. As the costs of food, fuel and housing continue to climb, families are increasingly forced to make difficult choices about what they can afford.
As evening turned to night and Aman, Zarine, Riban and Sabbir prepared for another day of uncertainty, it became clear that inflation is far more than an economic term discussed in reports and statistics. It is a lived reality that shapes daily decisions, household budgets and future aspirations.
For many families in Shillong, rising prices are not just numbers on a chart. A growing anxiety among many residents who worry that essential goods and services are gradually becoming less affordable, making it increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet.
(Authored by Siddhangana Nag, Intern)
