‘Vending zone, not parking’

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, DEC 20: Make more areas as ‘No Parking Zones’ and not as ‘No Vending Zones’ – People are more valuable, not cars/bikes – was the message conveyed by the protesting hawkers, which ended their sit-in-protest on Monday. The hawkers have reiterated their decision to continue their agitation till the state government is ready and willing to implement the central law which they said guaranteed them their rights.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the National Federation of Hawkers (NFH) will be visiting the state on December 23 to meet the affected hawkers in the state capital, after their struggle caught his attention.

The hawkers under the banner of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) have been protesting in front of Municipal office for past five days.

Apart from demanding the central law, the hawkers have also boycotted the application forms issued by the Town Vending Committee (TVC) on the ground that it was illegally constituted as it does not have adequate hawkers’ representations.

They have also objected to the fact that an in situ (or where persons are selling) survey of persons as well as vending places have not been done.

With regards to Shillong Municipal Board recent submission before the high court that most places including, PB, GS Road, Motphran, MTC, Jail road, Laitumkhrah, etc will be declared no vending zones, the hawkers said, “This is against the law where natural markets cannot be declared as no vending zones.”

“SMB also stated to the court that only 700 hawkers – one per family – can be accommodated in the city. This is again against the law as the “holding capacity” has not been determined,” they stated.

The protestors also claimed that in fact during the 5 days, persons who were not hawkers were also seen taking forms. This goes to prove that if systems as per law are not put in place there will be rampant corruption and nepotism denying the genuine hawkers their rights.

Further, the board has indicated that they will not allow vending in the carts and vehicles. Given this, it is clear that the form giving exercise was nothing but another attempt to befool the hawkers and citizens, they added.

The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association on December 16 has also filed a writ challenging the constitutionality of the Meghalaya Act on Street Vending.