The fight for a fair deal continues for the hawkers and street vendors of Shillong even as the state government keeps missing its own self-imposed deadline to relocate them.
Members of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) submitted another letter to the chairperson of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) today, continuing their nine-year struggle for the proper implementation of the Street Vendors Act 2014. The association gave the chairperson a two-day ultimatum to call an emergency PTVC meeting.
The state government has been planning to move many of the hawkers from the busiest parts of the city, citing overcrowding, public safety and cleanliness as some of the issues. The MGSPHSVA is amenable to relocation but wants the Street Vendors Act followed in letter and spirit and it claims that the government has failed on this score.
The hawkers warned they will be forced to agitate, asserting their right to a lawful and transparent process. Despite a legal victory requiring the Meghalaya government to enact the law, hawkers allege that authorities have been slow and inconsistent in its efforts.
Social activist Angela Rangad, an invitee member of the hawkers’ association, expressed disappointment in the government’s approach. “It is not enough to do things just to show on paper,” she remarked.
While a PTVC was notified in December 2022 to conduct an in situ survey, issue vending certificates and handle claims and objections, these processes remain incomplete, she added. Suggestions for a digital survey and geotagging were also dismissed by the government, raising concerns about transparency.
The hawkers claim that recent relocation notices are illegal, with makeshift vending zones being constructed at parking lots without proper consultation. The association points out that these steps were taken without completing the mandated processes, including verifying the list of genuine hawkers. This, the hawkers fear, could exacerbate issues by allowing ineligible individuals to occupy spaces meant for those with no other livelihood options.
Further criticism has been directed at the government for alleged corruption. Rangad questioned the allocation of Rs 6 crore for constructing temporary vending sites, stating that such decisions were made unilaterally without PTVC approval. She pointed out past instances where funds meant for hawkers were allegedly misused, such as building a parking lot in Tura instead of providing essential facilities.
The association, representing over 1,500 members, stresses that most hawkers are locals, including educated youth and women from agricultural backgrounds. About 70 percent of the members are Khasi women striving to support their families. Rangad called on the government to respect the spirit of the law, urging immediate action to convene an emergency PTVC meeting.
