Hawkers reject TVC form

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, DEC 14: Hawkers on Wednesday staged a protest in-front of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office to boycott the form issuance by the Town Vending Committee (TVC) which they alleged was constituted “illegally”.

The TVC has issued order asking all hawkers to fill up forms for both municipal and non-municipal areas.

Hawkers refused to collect or fill forms given saying these were issued by an illegally constituted TVC which has no representation whatsoever from amongst the hawkers.

The hawkers said there is no indication how these forms will be scrutinized and given that there has been no survey the forms may be issued to non-genuine hawkers and eventually licenses will be hijacked and even sold.

The hawkers, who are demanding implementation of central act, also opposed the evictions, unabated with false FIRs, arrests, seizure and destruction of goods for many years but now have intensified their agitation since November this year.

“This has led to massive displacement of hawkers so any exercise to identify genuine hawkers will be futile if the hawkers are not identified through a proper survey in their respective places of business,” the hawkers said adding hence the issuing of forms is nothing but an eyewash which may open the door for corruption and nepotism.

The hawkers informed the indefinite stir of the hawkers will intensify till such time when the demands for implementation of the central law which paves way for a transparent and participatory TVC, survey of hawkers and vending zones, setting of the holding capacity for the town, proper licensing system with a time frame are met.

Since June 2016, the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressivr Hawkers and Street Vendors Association has been petitioning the government for streamlining hawking activities within a legal framework but repeated petitions and meetings have fallen on deaf ears.

The association condemned the apathy and abdication of responsibility by the representatives and government and reiterate that the hawkers will not rest till a lasting solution for safeguarding their rights is put in place.