Although street vendors in Shillong are waiting with bated breath for the formulation of rules for street vending as per the Central act on hawking and street vending, inconvenience caused to pedestrians by unregulated street vendors is a common problem faced in the city.
The matter was even mentioned by the Meghalaya High Court which during its hearing on August 16 took a dim view of hawkers taking over footpaths and pedestrian walkways virtually all over Shillong and Tura, the two main cities in the State and even elsewhere.
The High Court also observed that there are reports of hawkers being required to pay fees to some persons to set up shop, almost by way of protection money.
The court had even directed the State government to look into this matter and deal with it with “appropriate strictness”.
Following the High Court’s order, officials of the district administration led by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo yesterday conducted an inspection of the footpaths occupied by vendors at Laitumkhrah.
It may be mentioned that vendors selling food items have even occupied the footpath in front of the Shillong Civil Hospital.
Cases of vendors occupying footpaths have also been reported near Jeep Stand and Ïew Mawlong.
Street vendors under the banner of Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) have been demanding for implementation of the central act on hawking namely, The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
The association further asked the government to immediately constitute the Town Vending Committee with 40 per cent members of the hawking and street vending community and 10 per cent members from the NGOs/civil society who have worked with the vending community.
On May 18, the State government decided to do away with The Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 in order to follow the Central law pertaining to street vending.
