The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers’ and Street Vendors’ Association (MGSPHSVA) today said that the order of East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo issued yesterday has been “misreported” by various newspapers and electronic media.
“The DC’s order dated August 23, 2022 has been misreported in various newspapers and electronic media. As we have been officially collaborating with the district administration regarding streamlining of hawking activities in town, the order provides an administrative basis for that participatory exercise. Nowhere does the order say eviction or removal but clearly talks about harmonious resolution to the conflicting claim on city life,” said the hawkers’ association in a statement issued today.
The association also lauded the Meghalaya High Court for bringing to close the six-year-old legal struggle by the association to demand the implementation of the Central act on hawking and street vending, namely, the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, in Meghalaya.
“With the Meghalaya government accepting before the court that they shall repeal the State act and notify the Central law and make rules under it in a time bound manner, we as an association are pleased to announce our legal victory,” the MGSPHSVA said.
The hawkers’ association also said that as per the Central act, now there has to be an in situ survey of all genuine hawkers, declaration of holding capacity regarding the number of hawkers and street vendors that the town can accommodate election and establishment of Town Vending Committee (TVC) with 40 per cent hawkers elected representation.
It also said that the TVC will identify the vending zones both in natural and heritage markets as well as sizing, seating arrangements and timing and also issue vending licenses to genuine hawkers.
Implementation of which we have been demanding and fighting and that will lead to a new kind of urban life in Shillong and other district towns where rights of all stakeholders are respected and conflicts harmoniously resolved.
