SHILLONG, JUL 10: Members of the Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association staged a protest on Friday, demanding the immediate formation of a full-fledged Town Vending Committee (TVC) and an end to what they called “arbitrary” decisions on vending zones.
Association General Secretary Shane Thabah said the protest was prompted by the expiry of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) and unilateral decisions taken thereafter.
“The PTVC was constituted for one year and its term has already expired. We are demanding a full-fledged TVC because decisions are no longer being taken collectively. One senior person in the PTVC is taking decisions alone. This is illegal and shows no respect for the committee that exists,” Thabah said.
He said the move has affected traditional markets like Iewduh, Iew Mawlong and Motphran.
“These are Heritage and Natural Markets that have existed for generations. The law clearly states that you cannot abolish markets. The law should be used to regulate and work together, not to displace vendors,” he said.
Thabah also flagged issues with relocation and issuance of Certificates of Vending (COVs) without consultation.
Citing Laitumkhrah, he said a site identified jointly during inspections was later “de-notified” by authorities.
“We agreed to try the site even though it was not sufficient, because we want to work with the government. But after a few days it was de-notified. This kind of arbitrary action kills hope and saddens the public,” he said.
On the shifting of vendors from the MTC area, he alleged decisions were taken without the Committee’s approval.
“We discussed shifting food vendors to the SMB parking lot, not clothes vendors. But now COVs have been issued to clothes vendors to move to Polo without any discussion in the Committee. The decision came directly from the Municipal Office,” Thabah said.
He urged the government to constitute the TVC through elections at the earliest.
“We demand that a full-fledged Town Vending Committee be put in place immediately, and that elections be held so that matters concerning street vendors are not biased and the process can move forward properly,” he added.
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