Editor,
Shillong, has always been a city that teaches resilience. Carved into the hills of Meghalaya, its landscape has long reflected the character of its people — determined, patient, and deeply rooted in community. But as the city navigates the pressures of a changing economy, one question grows more urgent: are its people financially prepared for tomorrow?
The answer, for too many households, is no — and it is time to change that.
Start saving before you need to. Meghalaya’s living root bridges were not built in a day. Grown strand by strand across generations, they are nature’s greatest lesson in compounding patience. The same principle applies to money. Setting aside as little as Rs 500– Rs 1,000 every month in a recurring deposit or provident fund, beginning today, builds a foundation that no emergency can easily shake. The habit is simple: pay yourself first, then live on the rest.
Insurance is not an expense — it is protection. Shillong is a city of musicians, traders, and self-employed earners whose livelihoods depend on their health and presence. A term life insurance cover of Rs 25–50 lakhs can cost as little as Rs 300–500 per month for a young person — a small price to ensure that a family does not collapse if the worst happens. A basic family health insurance floater, at Rs 8,000–15,000 per year, means one hospitalisation does not erase years of savings. The present may feel stable, but protection must be secured before it is needed.
Women must lead the financial transformation. Meghalaya’s matrilineal tradition places women at the heart of inheritance and family continuity. Yet many women in the informal economy, including the tireless vendors of iewduh market, operate without a bank account in their own name, without insurance, and without a retirement plan. Every woman earning an income deserves a savings account, a registered nomination on her assets, and an NPS or PPF account building quietly for the future. Cultural strength must now be matched by financial inclusion.
Remittances must build, not merely sustain. Shillong’s young people are working across India and beyond, sending money home. But without a plan, those remittances are absorbed into daily expenses and nothing remains permanent. Every earner working away from home should follow three steps: protect the family with affordable government schemes; save with a specific goal using SIPs or recurring deposits; and invest a portion back into local enterprises or cooperatives that create opportunities in Shillong itself. Migration, managed wisely, can become the seed capital for the city’s next chapter.
Community spirit must be backed by formal security. The warmth of Shillong’s deep culture of sharing and collective care — is one of its greatest assets. But goodwill alone cannot bear the weight of every medical emergency or financial crisis. Relying solely on community goodwill for financial emergencies places a strain on social bonds and often leads to debt spirals that damage relationships. A family with a health insurance policy does not have to borrow from neighbours when someone falls ill. A household with a term cover does not have to depend on the charity of relatives when the breadwinner passes away. A small business owner with a credit history and a registered enterprise can access formal loans instead of predatory moneylenders.
Shillong’s socio-economic future and the State of Meghalaya as a whole will be written one household at a time. The hills have always rewarded those who build with patience and purpose. Begin today — open that Savings/Recurring/Fixed account, buy that policy, start that SIP.
The city’s most prosperous chapter is still ahead. You are the one who will build it.
Yours etc.,
Shakeel Rafee Swer,
Via email
Grave Irregularity by SMB
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the urgent attention of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) to a matter of grave public health concern.
The stretch from Polo Bazar to 4th Furlong in the capital town is dotted with numerous shops and commercial establishments, most of them stand-alone in nature. Shockingly, hardly any of these establishments have toilet facilities, despite such provision being a mandatory requirement under the Meghalaya Municipality Act, 1973, which obligates every licensed commercial premise to maintain adequate sanitary conveniences for employees and customers.
Moreover, there is not a single public toilet in the entire stretch. As a result, shopkeepers, their staff, and customers are compelled to attend to nature’s call in the open, turning the area into an unhygienic, stench-filled zone. This blatant violation of municipal regulations raises serious questions about the functioning of SMB.
It is therefore, baffling how trade licences and permissions continue to be granted or renewed for establishments that are apparently operating in blatant disregard of these statutory requirements.
I strongly urge the SMB to immediately investigate the matter, initiate suitable action against violators and ensure the construction of public conveniences in the area. If no immediate steps are taken, citizens will be left with no other choice but to seek legal recourse to uphold their right to a clean and healthy environment.
Yours etc.,
D. Bhattacharjee
Shillong-1
