After spending decades in the service of Shillong’s public, mending, repairing and shining their shoes, a group of street cobblers in Khyndailad are worried for the future as they have been denied certificates of vending (CoVs) by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).
Despite having been in the business for over 30 years and having taken loans from the SMB, these vendors are being forced to reconsider their profession.
Mohitpal Ram, a cobbler who has been working on the streets for 35 years, said, “I have gone to the SMB office several times but I still haven’t received my CoV. It’s unfair that we’re being denied licences despite having all the necessary documents.”
The SMB’s decision has him and others like him worried for their future.
Ramjivant Ram, another cobbler, expressed his frustration, saying, “We’ve spent half our lives on these streets and now we’re being told we’re not eligible for a CoV. It’s hard to understand why we’re being treated this way.”
These two are paid-up members of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA). They are urging the SMB to reconsider their decision and provide them with the necessary licences to continue to operate their businesses.
Hawkers have been mandated to have a CoV if they want to occupy public space for their business. The state government, through the SMB, is in the process of relocating Khyndailad’s hawkers to designated spaces, though the MGSPHSVA has questioned the way the authorities have gone about the entire process, including in the issuance (or denial) of CoVs.
High Court-appointed spl officer to convene joint meeting
The Special Officer appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to implement its orders with regards to shifting of street vendors will convene a joint meeting with the local and police authorities as well as the hawkers association on July 16.
Shillong Municipal Board CEO PK Boro in a notice said the joint meeting is in pursuant to the order passed by the Meghalaya High Court on July 3.
A division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh had appointed senior lawyer Subhasis Chakrawarty as special officer, who has been tasked to prepare a list of authorised or licensed vendors, stated to be around 349, in consultation with the general secretary of the association, the local and police authorities.
The Special Officer is to ensure that the court orders are implemented “without any breach of peace or commission of any offence”.
The court in its order had said that vendors without license will not be allowed to vend in Police Bazar. At the same time they are allowed to apply for vending license. It also said that the vendors will have to shift to the new site arranged for them by the Shillong Municipal Board and if they failed to do so they shall be evicted.
The court directed that vendors with license will be allowed to vend with alternate timings between 12.30 pm to 2 pm and 7: 30 pm to 9 pm, subject to the undertaking given by the general secretary of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) that the vendors will not exceed the time limit to ensure that there is no disruption in traffic flow or movement of people.
The Special Officer was asked to file a report containing subreports by local and police authorities before the High Court when it hears the matter on August 5, 2025.
