Hawkers oppose vending zones

SHILLONG: The state hawker association has opposed the notification of the Municipal Town Vending Committee (TVC) marking 12 areas within the municipal jurisdiction as ‘vending zones’ for registered hawkers and street vendors.
The association contends that status quo should be maintained until the matter is resolved.
The members of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers & Street Vendors Association met Chief Secretary MS Rao on Friday and submitted a petition on various issues concerning them while stressing on implementation of the central law on hawking and street vending in the state rather than the state law which they feel is inadequate.
The association also expressed its willingness to work with the concerned authorities in finding a solution to the issues of congestion, cleanliness and protection of hawkers and street vendors, as it has been doing.
The association, however, expressed its disappointment with the authorities for not taking it into confidence and backtracking on certain agreements.
The association said that various problems in the urban areas of Meghalaya like congestion, unemployment and exploitation and others cannot be solved unless there is a proper participatory and democratic process involving all— the authorities, the hawkers and street vendors, as well as the general public.