Hawkers’ body against forceful evictions till flaws are rectified

Shillong, June 29: Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers & Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has opposed forceful eviction of hawkers from Khyndailad till a fair relocation is achieved

In a statement issued on Sunday, Shane Thabah General Secretary, MGSPHSVA, said that the organisation wishes to put on record that since its legal challenge in the Meghalaya Highcourt in 2016 to ensure the state notified the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation) Act 2014, it has remained steadfast in ensuring that the law is implemented in letter and spirit. After the favourable judgement in 2022, the Association has cooperated with the Government to ensure rights are upheld as per the law. The Association is part of the Provisional Town Veding Committee ( PTVC) set up by goverment  through  notification in 2022 which was to take up set 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 occur 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.

Unilateral decision 

The association 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 Provisional Town Vending Committee.
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 till the flaws such as issuing licenses to persons having shops despite legitimate objections, denial of license to genuine hawkers on frivolous grounds are rectified.

Designing of vending places 

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 others 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. 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.