Editor,
Khyndai Lad is the busiest commercial centre of Shillong. On 30 June 2025, since morning, citizens passing through the area have witnessed a melee, or scuffle, that erupted due to the forceful eviction of street vendors. Many of them are licensed street vendors and hawkers and also there are hundreds of them whose licences are being processed after the completion of the in situ survey. As an invitee member of the Meghalaya & Greater Shillong and Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), I was present during the first half of the morning and witnessed the incident first-hand, standing in solidarity with the street vendors whose relentless struggle for the protection and regulation of their livelihoods has been ongoing for more than a decade. Their efforts are now under threat due to insensitivity on the part of the State.
In fact there are plenty of human stories to share but for want of space and time I shall save those for a later date. However, let me take this opportunity to present certain facts so as to put the real issues into proper perspective.
The process of implementing the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation) Act 2014, has been progressing smoothly with the cooperation of the hawkers’ association and various stakeholders, despite some hiccups along the way. The opposition expressed by the street vendors and hawkers on the 30th June 2025, is not against the law’s implementation per se; rather, it is a protest against recent irregularities that have arisen. These include the issuance of Certificates of Vending (CoV) to individuals who are not genuine hawkers, an issue the organization had objected to during the claims and objections process.
Furthermore, the unilateral decision to relocate vendors to new vending areas without the approval from the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) is completely illegal. The discrepancies and flaws in the issued CoVs clearly demonstrate the ineptness and possibly deliberate attempts by the State to create confusion, thereby denying the poor hawkers and street vendors their right to work and livelihood.
Members of the PTVC, representing the MGSPHSVA have sent several letters strongly petitioning the government to rectify these flaws from the outset. As the process has just started and it is mutually agreed amongst the stakeholders that Khyndai Lad area will be a pilot for the implementation of the Street Vending Law. From day one the MGSPHSVA has earnestly and religiously devoted its time in participating and monitoring the processes of implementation. The Association strongly felt that laying the fair and just foundation in the process of verifying and issuing of CoVs to genuine street vendors and hawkers is a matter of grave importance and thereby rectification of flaws/discrepancies is crucial to prevent future irregularities, unfair practices, and corruption.
In this context, the resistance by the street vendors and hawkers is valid. The State must address and rectify all the issues raised in these correspondences before resuming the processes of relocation, re-spacing etc as agreed upon by stakeholders who are members of the PTVC.
I remain optimistic that with the cooperation of the street vendors and hawkers association, the community and the State, these issues can be resolved amicably and justly.
Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh
Invitee Member, MGSPHSVA
