Shillong, July 1: The state government has said the urban and municipal affairs department is committed to ensure that the livelihoods of street vendors are protected while promoting a more organised and accessible urban environment for all.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the department said it has formulated a scheme to provide a relocation allowance of Rs 20,000 to vendors holding a valid Certificate of Vending (CoV), comprising an upfront payment of Rs 10,000 and a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 for the next five months.
Earlier, the Members of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) led by Angela Rangad staged a protest in front of the secretariat against the eviction drive at Khyndailad and demanded an emergency meeting of the provisional town vending committee (PTVC) to rectify the flaws.
Tourism Minister and MDA government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh criticised the leaders of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) for allegedly having some hidden agenda to delay the relocation of hawkers and street vendors to the MUDA’s upper floor parking lot, which has been declared as a vending zone.
The full statement of department below
“The Street Vendors Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act was
enacted in 2014. Thereafter, the State Government e has notified the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2022 and the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.
In pursuance to the above, the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) of Shillong was constituted on 13th October 2022 as per Rule- 5 of the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2022. It comprises members from Govt. Department, Vendor Associations, NGOs, Dorbar Shnongs etc. Since its formation, the PTVC has been conducting regular meetings and attended by the Shillong Roadside Hawkers
Association and Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Street Vendors Association.
In accordance to the provisions of the Scheme, the Provisional Town Vending Committee initially conducted an in-situ digital survey for existing vendors within the Municipal area. This survey was carried out in a phased manner, beginning with a pilot survey in Khyndailad on December 4, 2025 and thereafter across 22 other locations which was completed by January
16, 2024. A total no. of 1,400 vendors were surveyed, out of which 760 were eligible vendors”.
The location- wise breakup is given below
“To carry on with the other activities provided in the Scheme, Khyndailad area has been selected for the Ist phase of implementation. This began with, the exercise of disposal of claims and objections was taken up wherein a Sub-committee was constituted to conduct the hearings.
The same was conducted on 28th February, 3rd and 4th March 2025. Total claims received were 87 nos where 62 nos were verified, and 25 nos were absent. An opportunity for hearing was also given to the absentees on 25th April 2025 and disposed on 8th May 2025. The total surveyed vendors for Khyndailad is now 457 nos of which 407 nos. are eligible.
For, the Khyndailad area, the initially identified vending zones are as follows:
a) Ground Floor of MUDA Parking Lot
b) Frontage of MUDA Complex
c) SMB Parking Lot opp. SBI Main Branch
Accordingly, the above locations were notified by the Government. Later on,the request of the Vendor’s Associations, the Ground floor MUDA Parking Lot was de-notified as vending location and 1st Floor of MUDA Parking Lot notified as vending location. Subsequently the remaining areas of Khyndailad was declared as a “no vending zone” by the Government.
The above activity then followed by the commencement and issuance of the Certificate of Vending (CoVs)to the eligible vendors of Khyndailad. The distribution process started from the 2nd June 2025 and as on date a total of 251 Certificates of Vending (CoVs) has been issued out
of 407 eligible vendors identified in the Khyndailad area.
The PTVC has issued a Public Notice on 21st of June 2025 requesting vendors without valid
Certificates of Vending (CoVs) to vacate their occupied spaces within 3 days and the
commencement of relocation for CoV holders with effect from 22nd July 2025. A Public
announcement has been carried out from the 25th – 28th June 2025 from 10:00 AM till 9:00
PM. Enforcement exercise to vacate spaces of vendors without COVs has also begun on the 30th of June 2025 at 8:15 AM in the Khyndailad area.
It may be mentioned that the regulation of street vending is a complex task collectively
undertaken by the Shillong Municipal Board, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, and the Police Department, in accordance with the provisions of law.
The enforcement exercise initiated in
Khyndailad on 30th June 2025 marks the beginning of a sustained effort to relocate all surveyed eligible vendors to designated vending zones, as per the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2022.This exercise will be extended to other localities across the city and will continue until all registered eligible vendors are
relocated to the notified vending zones. Recognizing the inconvenience caused to vendors due to relocation, the department has formulated a scheme to provide a relocation allowance of ₹20,000 to vendors holding a valid Certificate of Vending (CoV), comprising an upfront payment of ₹10,000 and a monthly allowance of ₹2,000 for the next five months.
10. It may also be noted that the entire process of the enforcement exercise and the regulation of street vending being undertaken by the department is regularly monitored by the Hon’ble High Court, as mandated by Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 9/2024 concerning street vendors and PIL No. 17/2021 regarding traffic congestion. It is the endeavour of the department to ensure that the livelihoods of street vendors are protected while promoting a more organized and accessible urban environment for all”.
Sd/-
Commissioner & Secretary
Urban Affairs Department
