Market at Miao

After being away from Miao for several years, I am facing what the anthropologists call “cultural shock”.

 

About a week ago I went to purchase 25 kg rice and I did not bring a carry bag thinking that the shopkeepers will provide me that. I was wrong. They told me I have to buy a gunny bag for Rs 10 or the other plastic type of bag for Rs 20. I was not expecting that and I felt betrayed. This is a town which sells things that I consider not saleable. For example, as above gunny bags are sold, empty oil cane used for carrying drinking water are sold at 25 to 40 Rs a piece.

 

Bank at Miao

I went to open a joint account in a bank. It took me a week to go through the formalities. The first process is with the operational officer. His requirements where plenty. He asked for address proof. I took saving account passbook as stated. It was not accepted and reproduced something else. Then photographs – 2 required. I had only one. Just to pass through this officer I ran for 4 days!

 

The next process is to get the account information entered. That took two days. The first day he said will spend for entering and then we can pick up the next day. When we went the next day, the staff kept asking us to wait and wait. We waited for about an hour in the morning. He asked for further wait. Then we decided to come again in the afternoon. When we went, he was actually trying to join my name to my friend’s account, which we don’t want. We clarified and waited further. Only at 4.30 pm our account was created and left our initial deposit of Rs 1,000 with him. But the passbook was not available.

 

While waiting for the opening of our account, a friend from Shillong happen to dropped in and we chatted for a while on the differences of formalities of SBI with other private banks like HDFC, AXIS etc. The private banks even provide services to come at office/home to open accounts. Even if we visit at their bank, they provide quick services. Quite a difference in operational style.

 

I look forward to a day when a private bank will arrive at Miao to compete with the existing bank.

 

Impressions at Miao

Since we arrived at Miao on 17 January 2014, I have visited several shops and felt the prices are overcharged. For example,

·        I bought top up for my airtel mobile for Rs 100 and I got only for Rs 76 as talk time value. Again I bought full talk time value of Rs 130 but actually they charged another 10 rupees.

·        One day I was having some friends coming along to cut grass on my small plot of land and on the way bought a 2 liter bottle of sprite. The MRP was Rs 68 but actually charged Rs 75!

·        Another shocking experience was photocopying. A copy was charged Rs 10. I thought that shop was overcharging but then later found out other shops too take the same amount.

·        A bottle of petrol is Rs 100.

·        25 sheets of A4 size is Rs 20!

 

In contrast, the local produce are cheap.

·        One kg beef is 100.

·        3 bundles of green leaves Rs 10.

·        Potato 15 rs.

·        Generally, all green vegetables produced by local people are sold at cheaper price.

 

My impression: Whatever goods and services brought from Tinsukia, Margherita, Jagun, Dimapur and other places are sold in higher rates than it should be. Whereas, the goods that are local available have not take their due advantage of getting higher profit.