If the state government was hoping that it had successfully resolved the issue of relocation of hawkers and street vendors from the Khyndailad area, the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) today made it clear that is is unsatisfied and will oppose “forceful eviction” until a “fair relocation” is achieved.
The state government has set aside the upper level of the MUDA parking lot as a designated zone for hawkers and street vendors and the first 200 are set to take up their slots there.
In a statement issued today, MGSPHSVA general secretary Shane Thabah said that the association has cooperated with the government to ensure rights are upheld as per the law. The MGSPHSVA is part of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) set up by the government in 2022, which was to take up tasks such as the in-situ survey, process of claims and objections and issuing of certificates of vending as steps towards finally having a full fledged Town Vending Committee that will examine heritage and natural market spaces, holding capacity, vending zones and others.
The association has dutifully pointed out through submissions to the PTVC any lapses that occured in implementation of the law, as for instance the total failure of the digital survey that was envisaged as a tool to ensure smooth and transparent implementation of the law, Thabah said.
The MGSPHSVA has also questioned and demanded that unilateral decisions and spending that took place for construction of vending stalls in the MUDA parking lot be disclosed and placed before the PTVC.
The association, while cooperating with the government, also demanded that flaws in the processes be rectified so that genuine hawkers are not deprived of their right to livelihood while also ensuring that vested interests do not exploit the law for self gain in the name of the poorest and weakest. To this end, the association has submitted petitions that the respacing and relocation of hawkers in the Khyndailad area be done in a thorough, fair and transparent manner and to this end will not allow forceful evictions until what Thabah said are flaws – such as issuing licences to persons having shops despite legitimate objections, denial of licence to genuine hawkers on frivolous grounds, etc – are rectified.
Furthermore, the association insisted on a participatory and collective exercise of designing the hawkers’ space and has consulted architects and planners from the state as well as Delhi, Sikkim, Bangalore and other places to bring in best practices to ensure a safe, healthy space for hawkers, buyers and citizens of Shillong that respects, upholds and reflects local tradition and culture, Thabah added. The association also called on more designers and local artists to be part of the planning for a transformative space that upholds the rights of all citizens.
