Why Mizoram has shops without shopkeepers

In the beautiful hills of Mizoram, a quiet but great tradition reflects the strength of trust and honesty in that society. Alongside village and road paths, roadside vendors sell fresh fruits vegetables, and other essentials to day-to-day buyers - no shopkeeper is required for any of them because an open cash box serves them as a pay-and-use affair.
This unique tradition is called “Nghah Lou Dawr,” which is the local term for “shops without attendants,” and it works because honesty is a deeply ingrained value in Mizo culture. It's a practice that may seem unusual to outsiders, but for people in Mizoram, it's a natural part of life.
How do these trust stalls work?
The concept is so easy: local farmers or small vendors set up a stand neatly, displaying their produce or other goods sold. With all their prices written on an appropriate list, a cash box is situated; those in need stop by, tally, take whatever they need, put their monies in the box, and disappear.
There are no shopkeepers, no cameras, and no security measures. Complete trust in the honesty of those who come to buy is the only requirement.
The reason it works
The success of such practice is in the values maintained by the people of Mizoram. Honesty and integrity taught from an early age are held high as the foundation of good character. In Mizoram, to do what is right, not doing it when no one sees that you do it, but doing it because you just are, defines who a person is.
This shared sense of responsibility and respect is what guards against the system's being manipulated by anyone. It is the trust that is never questioned in the community.
A social media sensation
Even though this practice has been going on for decades, it is still amazing and incredibly shocking to those outside Mizoram. Images and videos of these "trust stalls" tend to go viral on social media where people would be amazed at such a system.

One of the posts widely shared was from an NGO called My Home India. It described the process as follows: "These shops work on the principle of trust." Posts like these remind us that, after all, honesty and faith in others can still exist, even in today's world.
Benefits for farmers and communities
These stalls not only display trust but benefit local farmers and sellers because they sell their produce to the customers directly, thus averting middlemen and getting fair prices for their products.
They are affordable for the buyers and quite accessible. Fresh, local produce is available at stalls while being part of the honest system. The remote areas of a region where the number of markets is low, play an important role in connecting sellers with buyers through these stalls.
A meaningful lesson
Mizoram's trust stalls offer a simple but valuable lesson for the world: trust and honesty can build stronger communities. In a time when people rely heavily on surveillance and security systems, this tradition proves that faith in others can still work.
More communities adopting this practice would build shared responsibility and trust. People would then remember that honesty is not a weakness but a strength that can unite people together.