Hawkers siege Shillong Civil Hospital entrance

A Reporter

SHILLONG, July 5: Hawkers have virtually besieged the main entrance of the Shillong Civil Hospital, causing severe inconvenience for patients, attendants and hospital staff.

Pedestrians too are have a harrowing time negotiating themselves through the clusters of food vendors who have out up shops in front of the hospital as well as on the footpath.

The government hospital receives thousands of patients and visitors every day. It is an eye sore to see hawkers selling various food items, including fried scks and betel nut (kwai), cigarettes etc, occupying the pavement and roadside outside the hospital. They also tend to leave unwanted garbage in the area while winding up after the day's trade.

Locals say it is not a healthy practice to have such shops located so close to a hospital. These stalls sell all kinds of junk food, especially fried scks, including Khasi dishes. The junction is one of the busiest areas of the city with constant flow of vehicles throughout the day. The unhygienic food stalls have post risks of health hazards because the items are kept in the open. One can see flies and dust settling on them.

The hospital has a canteen that provides affordable food. But many visitors to the hospital consume food at these roadside shops.

Concerned people say the authorities should look into the matter and relocate the hawkers and provide them a better place to carry on with their livelihood.