SOHRA:
MSC Pathaw, Susina Majaw, Bhalang Kshiar and Richard Lyngdoh Nonglait of Sohra earn their livelihood from sources as different as chalk and cheese. Today though, they find themselves in a common predicament; thanks to recent restrictions imposed to keep Covid-19 away from the state.
The restrictions have discouraged visitors to the state as they are not willing to go through the rigmarole of following the instructions of the government necessary to enter.
Sohra is known to the world for its natural beauty and people throng to the place to enjoy its charms making tourism the foremost economic activity of the people here.
Before the pandemic struck in 2020, the tourism industry in the state, including Sohra, saw an exponential boom and taking advantage of that several had set up guest houses and hotels; some of the entrepreneurs had even taken loans for the purpose. But then came the pandemic.
Pathaw, who started a resort in Laitduh, Sohra in July 2018, said that his trouble started the moment it opened. “It takes some time for the business to take off. After we started in 2018, the CAA protest erupted and then there was the Ichamati incident before the pandemic hit in 2020,” Pathaw said.
He also said that after the onset of the third wave, the restrictions imposed by the government have deterred the tourists from coming to the state. Stating that the restrictions are rigorous, Pathaw said many tourists have cancelled their bookings.
According to him, some tourist families consist of 10-12 members and paying for RTPCR tests at Umling adds to their expenditure budget significantly.
Recently, the Health department mandated that irrespective of their health condition, people entering the state would be tested at the entry point or will have to produce a negative RT-PCR report from a recognised laboratory valid for 72 hours.
Pathaw said that having invested in the resort, looking a job won’t be a solution. He also said that over and above repaying the loan, he will also have to pay salaries to his employees despite the fact there is no income.
“The bank won’t see the difficulties I am facing. I am repaying the loan by taking money from family and friends,” Pathaw said.
Susina Majaw, who sells souvenirs at the parking lot of Nohsngithiang Falls (Seven Sisters Falls) said that Covid-19 has affected her income flow. “Before Covid, even if there were less tourists, people from within the state would still visit. But now there is none,” Majaw added.
Echoing Majaw, Bhalang Kshiar, who also owns a shop at the same place, said that the government should ease the restrictions for the benefit of the visitors as well as the locals dependant on tourism.
Richard Lyngdoh Nonglait, parking attendant at the Parking Nohsngithiang Falls said that he is finding it difficult to make ends meet. “In the current situation we have to work half a season and sit home in the next half,” Nonglait said.
Pathaw, Majaw, Kshiar and Nonglait are in a season when the famed waterfalls of Sohra have gone dry just as their income.