Plea to provide alternate space for hawkers

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Joint council of Trade Unions & Associations has demanded that an alternate space be provided to hawkers, evicted following the High Court order, to run their business.
In a statement issued to the media, the MJCTU&A said that it held a meeting recently to discuss the plight of the hawkers.
“We took note of the talks from certain ‘so-called’ elite quarters questioning the right of hawkers and street vendors over the footpaths in comparison to right of pedestrians to walk freely in the said footpaths,” the statement said.
According to the trade union body, although there is no disagreement to the right of free space to walk, questions on the needs and rights of hawkers to sell their goods and produce cannot be dismissed.
“It is essential to acknowledge that hawkers are people coming from all over the state, trying to make a living and perhaps earn a meal a day for themselves and their children,” the trade union body said.
MJCTU&A said that the State cannot take away the livelihood of its citizens and it is the responsibility of the State to provide them alternative livelihood.
“The Hawkers and Street Vendors Act clearly provides such provisions and State should be pro-active in giving the relief and also adhere to the directives of the Court,” the  MJCTU&A said, while demanding appropriate rehabilitation of the hawkers and street vendors by providing them alternate sites or jobs of appropriate remunerations.
The MJCTU&A also demanded that the nature and location of the space should be examined  properly as it is not only about the relocation but the affected should be provided a place which has commercial activity and one which is physically suitable for the kind of businesses hawkers are engaged in.