SHILLONG: Ban on hawking in the streets has drawn serious flak for the state government and other stakeholders.
The livelihood of hawkers and street vendors has been at stake because of the virtual ban, especially after the government provided some relief to traders in Iewduh by allowing shops to reopen, although partially.
In the wake of this, the Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers & Street Vendors Association along with Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) has demanded that the government immediately implement the central law on hawking and street vending.
This will ensure proper licensing and identification of space so that there is proper physical distancing and at the same time hawkers and street vendors will be able to earn their living, the association said in statement.
Meanwhile, it also objected the public statement of the Rangbah Shnong of Hynnriew Shnong —localities which border the commercial areas of Shillong — in which they have “shown desire to evict and snatch away the livelihoods of the street vendors and hawkers”.
Some local youth groups, also called Seng Samla, even chased away women vendors, who were not even occupying a place but moving around selling small amounts of betel nuts and fruits, it said.
“One of them had forgone her food in order to buy the goods she was selling,” it added.
Expressing strong concern in this regard, the association said that this is not only heartless but also against the law.
While stating that the government assistance had not reached many of the hawkers and street vendors, the association said that charity and cash support can only be a temporary arrangement.
“We are one of the largest employment sectors outside agriculture and cumulatively contribute to the economy and GDP of the state as well as the country. Thus, any plans for reopening up of businesses have to include us,” the statement said.
Earlier, a delegation of the association had met Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong with a plea to lift the ban on hawking.
