‘They took my products on credit at a discount and said the payment would be made soon. But nothing has come through. I have gone to the office several times. They keep saying the Centre hasn’t released the money. How do they expect small businesses like mine to survive this kind of negligence?’
SHILLONG, April 24: What was intended to be a platform for uplifting local entrepreneurship has turned into a tale of broken promises and official indifference. Nearly six months after the Shillong Municipal Board’s Mini Mela, held from October 17 to 19, 2024, scores of vendors and participants remain unpaid for their services, with no clear response from the authorities.
The event, organised under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), had aimed to showcase the work of self-help groups (SHGs) and promote urban livelihoods. From local handicrafts and embroidery to Garo attire and homemade pickles, dozens of artisans invested their time, effort and resources into the three-day fair, placing their trust in the assurances of the municipal board.
That trust, however, now lies shattered.
“They took my products on credit at a discount and said the payment would be made soon. But nothing has come through,” said a woman, who makes pickles from her home in Shillong, requesting anonymity.
“I have gone to the office several times. They keep saying the Centre hasn’t released the money. How do they expect small businesses like mine to survive this kind of negligence?” she added.
Other participants have echoed similar frustrations.
Initially told that the payment files had been “misplaced”, they are now hearing a new excuse—that the funds have not been released by the ministry.
With every enquiry, the explanations become more confusing, while the Shillong Municipal Board’s silence continues to deepen mistrust.
“There’s no timeline, no transparency. Just a vague promise that things are being looked into. How can we take part in any future event after this? ,” said one vendor, who also requested anonymity for fear of backlash.
It may be mentioned that the Shillong Mini Mela was part of a central scheme meant to empower, not jeopardise, the financial security of small entrepreneurs. Yet those it aimed to uplift now find themselves worse off, caught in the web of bureaucratic apathy.
While officials remain tight-lipped, departmental sources revealed that delays stemmed from the Public Financial Management System being unresponsive during the time payments were to be approved. The funds, they say, are now awaiting allocation in the current financial year’s budget. But for vendors, such justifications offer little comfort.
“It is not just about the money anymore,” said another participant, adding, “It is about how we’ve been treated—like we don’t matter.”
As vendors continue their wait, the episode has exposed cracks in the very framework meant to support grassroots entrepreneurship. The question now is not just when the payments will be made but whether the damage to public trust can ever be repaired.