The sudden closure of 33 shops in a particular area of the city has raised a stink. Mr AL Hek the MLA representing the area and a minister in the MDA Government has naturally taken the matter head-on and argued that genuine non-tribal residents of the area should not be deprived of their livelihoods. Nongmynsong where the shops are closed is a Scheduled Area hence the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals )Regulation 1954 is effective in the area. The Act clearly specifies that any trade or business for profit including other similar vocations requires a trading license from the District Council.
The Act also spells out clauses that restrict trading by non-tribals. It says, ‘no person other than a tribal resident in the district shall carry on wholesale or retail trade or business within the Khasi Hills Autonomous District, except under a license issued in that behalf by an officer of the District Council duly authorized by the Executive Committee under provisions of this Regulation and the Rules made there-under. However, such license shall not be refused to a trader who has been carrying on such business within the District before the commencement of this Regulation, i.e. before 1954. If a trading license is refused, the grounds of refusal shall be recorded in writing after giving the applicant an opportunity to show-cause. However, no trading shall be deemed to be Benami when such trade is by any one spouse (one of whom is a tribal), consequent to a legal marriage, on behalf of the other or by any one of their legal issue. A non-tribal who is employed in any trade or business owned by a tribal shall obtain a clearance certificate from the Executive Committee to the effect that he is working as an employee or labourer of such tribal in the particular trade or business.
What is of concern is the loss of jobs to young people post the closure of Swiggy and Rapido both of which are franchises with head offices elsewhere but which are catering to public needs. Many of those working in Swiggy are tribal young men. The Rapido bike taxi is intended to ease the traffic of Shillong. It would be easy to surmise that local taxi drivers would not be happy to see their business taken away by someone smarter. And Swiggy has become a household name as much as Domino’s Pizza is. People needing to get their food home delivered efficiently are using Swiggy. The question is whether such franchises should also come under the District Councils since they are operating in non-scheduled areas.