Shillong, June 29: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has decided to oppose eviction of hawkers from Khyndailad area till rectification of “flaws”, including licenses to shop owners.
Demanding a thorough, fair, and transparent process for relocation of hawkers, MGSPHSVA general secretary Shane Thabah in a statement said, “We will not allow forceful evictions till the flaws such as issuing licenses to persons having shops despite legitimate objections and denial of licenses to genuine hawkers on frivolous grounds are rectified.”
The association demands implementation of Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation) Act 2014 in letter and spirit.
The association has been cooperating with the government to ensure that rights of street vendors are upheld as per the law, the statement said.
However, Thabah said, the association has pointed out lapses in the implementation of the law, including the failure of the digital survey and unilateral decisions regarding construction of vending stalls.
The association has also demanded a participatory and collective exercise of designing the hawker space for which it has consulted architects and planners from various states.
It has also urged more designers and local artistes to be part of the planning for a transformative space that upholds the rights of all citizens.
