SHILLONG: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association and TUR have slammed the State Government for delaying the implementation of the central Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
The hawkers’ body said that several representations and suggestions have been sent to government functionaries since July this year for implementing the central Act and notifying the rules as it has provisions that protect the rights of hawkers while also streamlining and regulating vending activities, but to no avail. “Till date the Government has done nothing and has instead engaged in illegalities and unleashed terror on the hawkers,” the Association said. The organisations also decided to intensify their agitation against government action from the coming week.
The hawkers demand that the “illegal and brutal evictions” stop immediately and also that the government fulfils their demands which include implementation of the central Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 besides the reconstituting of the Town Vending Committee having not less than 40% representation from among hawkers and hawker associations.
‘Angela Rangad, hawkers obstructed magistrate’
Meanwhile, Shillong Municipal Board officials have lodged a complaint that on December 7 evening, TUR’s Angela Rangad and Ronie Lyndem along with street vendors obstructed magistrates and staff of the Board, while they were carrying out an eviction drive against street vendors.
