Hawkers and street vendors from all over Shillong converged in Khyndailad last night to protest against relocation while terming the statement of tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh, misleading and illegal.
The hawkers did not shut shop but camped alongside their stalls stating this is the way to defend their right to livelihood so their children may be fed and educated.
Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association leading the protest said the encampment and night market was a novel form of protest to remind the government about implementing The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 in letter and spirit.
Yesterday, Lyngdoh had stated that the relocation plan was consulted and identification of the hawkers was done by the Shillong Municipal Board. The government had proposed relocation of the vendors to the MUDA Shopping Complex by November 24.
However the secretary of the association, Shane Thabah said, “His (Lyngdoh) statement is complete fabrication and reflects his shameful ignorance of law. We as the largest membership based association of hawkers and street vendors in Meghalaya, have not been part of any so-called ‘consultation’ about relocation from Khyndailad.”
Thabah said the only processes informed by The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 is legally valid. He said through this law the street vendors and hawkers have been participating in the in situ survey being conducted by the Provisional Town Vending Committee.
Once this process is complete and proper vending licenses are issued then a proper Town Vending Committee would be set up with 40 per cent elected street vendors and hawker as members. “It is this TVC that has the right to plan for vending and no vending zone, timing, roster, relocation etc.” he added.
He further stated that every new public construction like the new shopping mall in MTC, Marriot Hotel, Vivanta Hotel, Polo Market, Laitumkhrah Shopping complex ought to reserve at least 20 per cent of its floor area for hawking and vending zones and facilities for hawkers given that such places are on government land and deemed public spaces.
The tourism department plans to give a facelift to the Khyndailad stretch as a pedestrian zone and make it tourist-friendly. Lyngdoh had said the area will also have a “busking zone” to celebrate music, which Shillong has the talent for.
“There is no dearth of space for buskers and musicians and the hawkers association welcomes them to vend their talent alongside them. Even if Paul Lyngdoh himself wants to show his talent – to sing or read his poems, the association will gladly help organise a real grassroots programme,” Thabah said.
