Deadline for relocation extended till July 22 ** ‘Hidden agenda’ slur on hawker leaders
Shillong, July 1: The state government has extended the deadline and announced financial incentives for hawkers and street vendors of Khyndailad for relocation to the identified vending zone even as it pulled up some leaders of the hawkers’ association for having a “hidden agenda” in not solving the issue.
“The government has earmarked Rs 10,000 per vendor as shifting allowance and will provide monthly financial support of Rs 2000 per vendor for five months to help incentivise them to shift to the new vending zones,” cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.
The incentive is for hawkers who would agree to the shift to the dedicated vending zone at upper floor of MUDA parking lot at Khyndailad.
Lyngdoh also announced that the government has further relaxed the deadline for relocation of hawkers and street vendors to July 22.
He asserted that the government is on the right track and has been responsive and responsible in its approach to decongest Shillong and pedestrianize certain areas.
Meanwhile, reacting to the protest staged by hawkers under the banner of Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), the minister wondered if some leaders of the association actually want the issue of relocation of hawkers to persist for ever.
While the government proposed the hawkers of Khyndailad to be relocated to the upper floor of MUDA parking lot, the association insisted on rectification of certain flaws in the whole process including issue of licenses to the hawkers.
“I will not blame all the hawkers but apparently a few leaders would not like this issue to be resolved. But again, let me reiterate here that the government is committed to ensure the rule of law,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.
Warning that the government would not allow the rule of law to be compromised, he said the protest march in front of the Main Secretariat was in violation of Section 163 of BNS.
Highlighting the importance of equal rights for all road users, including motorists, pedestrians, and vendors, he said, “My rights as a vendor should not mean a denial of the rights of the other road users…”
Referring to discussions that took place over the course of the past one year and that the decisions were arrived at by taking consent of all stakeholders, he said, “This is nothing that the government did in the flash of a moment. We have been in constant touch with all the vendors and even their top leaders have also attended these various meetings held from time to time.”
“The meetings have been minutely recorded and they have agreed to the terms and conditions,” he said.
He, however, termed “unfortunate” the eviction drive conducted on Tuesday and clarified that only those possessing certificates of vending (CoV) would be allowed to carry on their trade.
