Shillong, July 2: High Court of Meghalaya will hear the pending issue related to hawkers, on Thursday.
Though the case pertains to traffic congestion in the city, the government feels that hawkers also add to the traffic congestion.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong told reporters that the government’s decision to relocate hawkers at Khyndailad area is aimed at benefiting them, rather than victimizing them.
He expressed surprise that some hawkers are creating problems despite the government’s efforts to support them.
“It is not that we wanted to victimize the hawkers. In fact this is done for their own good. You will not find a government which is really thinking seriously about the interest of the hawkers. Shifting allowance of Rs 10,000 is being provided and plus once they shifted to the designated place, again initially for five months, Rs 2000 per month will be paid to concerned eligible hawkers,” Tynsong said.
He explained that the town vending committee, which includes representatives of hawkers, has been working on the relocation plan and has held several meetings to finalize the details.
Tynsong appealed to hawkers to cooperate with the committee and bring their issues to the table for discussion.
On the recent protests by hawkers, Tynsong urged them to work with the committee, which he assured would take care of their concerns.
“Therefore, I would only request all vendors to cooperate, bring all your issues in this committee and committee will take care of all the issue and from the government side, we don’t want to just throw them out,” the deputy chief minister said
According to Tynsong, the government understands the livelihood of hawkers and is committed to supporting them, while also strictly following the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act and Rules.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said the government is not evicting hawkers but rather providing them with alternative spaces, such as the MUDA complex, which is suitable for commercial purposes.
Dhar said the enforcement drive is being carried out in line with a court order and is intended to place hawkers in designated areas.
He said the objective of the relocation drive for hawkers is aimed at benefiting them and keeping the city neat and clean.
Dhar said, “Government will do its own job. We are just doing the enforcement drive only to place and put our people in the right direction because we are trying our best. This is in line with the court order.”
“Moreover, all of us want our city should be neat and clean. Yes, we have to respect the pedestrians and other road users,” he said.
The Deputy CM said the government has been meeting with hawkers and taking their requests into consideration, including their preference for locations with commercial viability.
“As a government, we are trying to do it in such a manner that we are not throwing our people. We are giving them a good place in MUDA complex, which is good for commercial purposes. They have requested us not to put them in a place where there is no commercial purpose. We accept that and we are doing as per their request.”
Dhar hoped that hawkers will cooperate with the government and relocate to designated areas by the July 22 deadline. However, he warned that if they fail to comply, the law will take its own course.
On the fate of hawkers who don’t possess Certificates of Vending, Dhar said the government will address the issue in due course of time.
He said talks with hawkers are ongoing, and they are free to meet with government officials or him to discuss their concerns.
“We are not adamant. The hawker are free to meet my officers and even they can meet me from time to time. Negotiation is always there. As of now, implementation part has come. In fact, on the request of the hawkers, we have denotified the ground floor of the MUDA and notified the first floor of the parking lot as vending zone,” he added.
