SHILLONG, JUL 10: Members of the Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association staged a protest here on Friday, demanding immediate constitution of a full-fledged Town Vending Committee (TVC) and alleging arbitrary decisions by authorities regarding vending zones.
General Secretary of the Association, Shane Thabah, said the protest was triggered by the expiry of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) and unilateral decisions being taken without consultation.
“The public outcry today is because we all know that the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) was constituted. As per the law, the PTVC is valid only for one year and its term has already expired,” Thabah said.
“We have come here to demand a full-fledged Town Vending Committee because what I have observed is that during the PTVC meetings, once the term ended, they did not take collective decisions. Instead, one senior person in the PTVC would take decisions alone. This is illegal because they are no longer respecting the PTVC that exists.”
Thabah said the move has directly impacted traditional markets in the city.
“Because of this, the public has come out onto the streets. First and foremost is Iewduh, Iew Mawlong, Motphran etc. These are markets that have existed for many, many years since ancient times. They are known as Heritage Markets and Natural Markets, and the law clearly states that you cannot abolish markets,” he said.
He alleged that vending zones were being de-notified and Certificate of Vending (COV) holders were being relocated without proper consultation. Citing the example of Laitumkhrah, he said:
“During our discussions with the localities, we had also gone for inspection of places for street vendors. Even though it was not yet sufficient, we said ‘okay’ because we are not people who come out to create chaos in the town. We came out so that we can work together with the government officials and as per the law. Even though we were not fully satisfied, we said let us try. But after a few days, that same place was de-notified by their own decision. They said that place is no longer a vending zone. This is something that is being done arbitrarily and it kills hope and saddens the public.”
On the relocation of vendors from the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) area, Thabah alleged that decisions were taken without the Committee’s approval.
“When we discussed the MTC, we discussed with different markets — from Iewduh, Laitumkhrah, GS Road. Iewduh is a wholesale and retail market, but now just to complete the work, things are being shoved in together. That is not right. They said they would shift to the SMB parking lot. We discussed this in the Committee and said it is not a place to sell clothes. We discussed shifting those who sell food items instead. But now, while issuing COVs, even those selling clothes have been shifted to Polo without any discussion in the Committee. The decision was simply taken from the Municipal Office. This is something where they do not even respect the Committee that exists,” he said.
Thabah said the association wants the law to be used to regulate, not to displace vendors.
“We understand that the law exists, but it should only be used to work together and to regulate. When the places for street vendors are not yet ready, where are you giving COVs and telling them to go and set up?” he asked.
He concluded by reiterating the association’s core demand.
“So now here we are demanding that a full-fledged Town Vending Committee be put in place immediately, and that elections be held so that matters related to street vendors are not biased and the work can proceed properly.”
The protestors urged the state government and Shillong Municipal Board to act urgently to constitute the TVC as mandated under the Street Vendors Act.
By Our Reporter
