Hawkers protest against TVC’s recent notification

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, Dec 14: Hawkers numbering around 200 plus carrying placards under the banner of Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendor’s Association (M&GSPHSVA) along with members of Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) gathered outside the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office, to protest against the recent notification issued by Town Vending Committee (TVC) for Municipal & Non Municipal areas of Shillong regarding the issuing of forms for the Hawkers in the city.

The Hawkers association members along with TUR have also taken a decision to stage an indefinite sit-in-demonstration outside the SMB office if the notification is not revoked and demanded the TVC to be reconstituted.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, TUR member Angela Rangad said, “The TVC which released the notification is also illegal because it has been illegally constituted as it does not follow the norms specified in the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which is a central act.”

Pointing out that the central act clearly specifies that the TVC should have 40 percent Hawkers representation out of which at least one third should be women, she said “It is only the hawkers who knows which areas are suitable for vending and which are not and the government should work together with them to identify such areas. More over this TVC does not have any Hawker representation at all.”

She further said that the notification is illegal issued by an illegal body as no specific details had been given on who will screen the forms and what method is to be used to identify the genuine hawkers.

“The notification does not even give a timeframe within which the licenses will be issued. A similar exercise was carried out in 2009 and till date no licenses have been issued,” she said adding that earlier at the form distribution counter she also availed the hawkers form.

“This clearly shows that many people and those backed by politicians can easily avail the form and recently the SMB had submitted a document at the High Court indicating that they can only accommodate 700 hawkers despite not even conducting any survey because even as per law, no evictions can be carried out without the Survey, Licensing and demarcation of vending zones,” she said.