Meghalaya Government's decision to mark vending areas irks street vendors

The Government of Meghalaya in order to give respite to the commuters has decided to mark the vending areas in Shillong.

However, the development has not gone well the vendors and hawkers. They have staged protests, accusing the authorities of doing so overnight without discussion with the vendors.

According to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Iswanda Laloo, the vending areas were marked as part of the exercise for reducing stall space to ensure that there is no encroachment of the road or pedestrian space. The zones are marked on Jail Road and Police Bazaar which receives thousands of pedestrians in a day.

The DC office had in August directed hawkers and street vendors occupying spaces to move away from such areas as they were obstructing major carriageways and pedestrian movement in Shillong.

The street vendors of Meghalaya were in a legal battle with the government since 2016 for their rights. The Meghalaya High Court in August this year observed that the state government is only trying to go by the book to adopt the central statute and has likewise taken these decisions. The rules have been made to fulfill all the requirements of the central statute on the protection of livelihood and regulating street vending.

DC Laloo stated that the vending zones were marked as part of the exercise for reducing stall space. This was done to ensure that there is no encroachment of the road or pedestrian space.

Notably, in May this year, the street vendors had rejoiced their victory following the Meghalaya High Court’s proclamation that the state government will repeal the existing Meghalaya Street Vendors ( Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 and follow the Central statute about street vending.

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