Khyndai Lad hawkers protest against govt’s relocation move

Shillong, Nov 22: Hawkers and street vendors doing business in Khyndai Lad staged a protest outside the office of the Shillong Municipal Board to oppose the proposal of the state government to relocate them.
The protest, organised under the banner of Meghalaya Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), was called against the government’s decision to relocate them to the MUDA Shopping Complex by November 24.
They expressed disappointment that they were neither informed nor alerted about the proposal to relocate them.
The MGSPHSVA has over 5,000 hawkers and street vendors registered under it.
The hawkers gathered outside the office of the Shillong Municipal Office forcing SMB Executive Engineer, FB Chyne to invite them for talks to discuss their grievances.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, MGSPHSVA president, Biolin Pyrtuh said that they sought clarification on the statement made by Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh to relocate them by November 24.
Pyrtuh also warned the minister against making misleading statements, saying that the SMB is not aware of any plan to relocate the hawkers and street vendors.
She said the hawkers would welcome the Tourism Minister with open arms and reserve a space for him if he wants to join them.
Pyrtuh also appealed to the hawkers to go about their daily activities without any fear of relocation.
Earlier, the Tourism minister had informed that the process of rehabilitating over 200 hawkers and street vendors will be completed by November 24 as part of the government’s endeavour to make Khyndai Lad a pedestrian zone.