Hawkers want State govt to make welfare schemes public

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors’ Association has urged the government to make public and in a transparent manner all policies and schemes – including those from the Centre like schemes for godowns, creches, toilets and other facilities – meant for the welfare of the hawkers.
The hawkers’ association and TUR have been demanding reconstitution of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) with not less than 40 percent representation from hawkers and hawkers’ associations where at least half the members have to be women.
Their five-day peaceful “non-cooperation” demonstration in front of the Municipal Board, which began on December 14 in protest against TVC’s form distribution among hawkers, will end on Monday. According to the hawkers’ body, the TVC was not properly represented by the vendors.
In a statement issued to the media on Sunday, the hawkers’ body further said the government should immediately stop all illegal evictions and conduct a survey of the hawkers and markets so as to identify vending zones.
The organisations also want the government to ensure that natural and heritage markets are not declared no-vending zones. Another demand is to complete survey of hawkers and issue licences within a month.
They further demanded immediate return of all seized goods and compensation for goods destroyed and lost.
While reiterating the implementation of the central Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, the hawkers’ body further said the government should withdraw all false FIRs filed against hawkers.