By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has finally prepared the draft hawkers policy which is expected to effectively tackle the menace of hawkers in the city.
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh recently said that the officers from State Urban Affairs department had attended a meeting in New Delhi to discuss the policy. “We are waiting for the resolutions of the meeting so that we can expedite the entire process,” Lyngdoh said. The proposed hawkers policy is expected to streamline the menace of hawkers who are involved in roadside business in different areas of the city which adds to congestion and chaos.
The main feature of the proposed bill would be to safeguard the rights of the hawkers besides defining the role of the government in their approach to the hawkers issue. Reacting to a query, Lyngdoh said that the State has to follow the all India Hawkers policy but the police will have to be modified in the context of the current situation in the state as the Government often finds it tough to acquire land in the state.
This proposed policy would also talk about certain demarcated areas in the city which can be converted into a hawker-free zone.
“We also have to consider the Rehabilitation package in view of the situation in the state,” she added.