SHILLONG: The Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers & Street Vendors’ Association (MGSPHSVA), the largest registered association of hawkers in Meghalaya, has started organising the unlocking of hawkers and street vendors’ livelihood in Shillong by ensuring social distancing, odd and even rule and timing. Based on the last digit of the membership ID number, the members are being classified on the odd and even basis.
Every member has been issued an official ID by the association which the members will wear while conducting their business. ID number ending with 0,2,4,6,8 will sit on Monday, Wednesday & Friday while ID number ending with 1,3,5,7,9 will sit on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
On Tuesday, the organisation began its campaign for protocol by establishing their business areas in vending spaces at Khyndailad, Motphran, Bimola & GS Road. Many members also carried placards with Khasi slogans like, “if we don’t work, we will die. For five months, we have been eating for only half a stomach so that our children will not starve, but now we have to do the needful and earn before we all starve. We cooperated and waited for the government to think of our plight, but their silence forced us to come out and reclaim our livelihood”
The MGSPHSVA said it had submitted multiple memoranda to the state government regarding the desperate situation faced by the hawkers and met with several political and bureaucratic heads but the government has expressed its inability to sort out the issue and ensure the hawkers are not driven to starvation.
The street vendors of Meghalaya also informed the government that it will be responsible only for its registered members who are genuine hawkers, whose list has already been submitted to the government and the High Court of Meghalaya. The Association has again appealed to the government that it needs to support the association and start proactive implementation of the central law on hawking. The association also appealed to the government to release cash support for the hawkers and daily wage workers as the promised Rs 700 in 3 installments has not arrived till now.
