Editor,
Khyndai Lad is the busiest commercial center of Shillong. On 30 June 2025, since morning, citizens passing through the area have witnessed a melee, or scuffle, that erupted due to the forceful eviction of street vendors. Many of them are licensed street vendors and hawkers and also there are hundreds of them whose licensed are being processed after the completion of the in situ survey. As invitee member of the Meghalaya & Greater Shillong and Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), I was present during the first half of the morning and witnessed the incident first-hand, standing in solidarity with the street vendors whose relentless struggle for the protection and regulation of their livelihoods has been ongoing for more than a decade. Their efforts are now under threat due to insensitivity on the part of the State.
In fact there are plenty of human stories to share but for want of space and time I shall save those for a later date. However, let me take this opportunity to present certain facts so as to put the real issues into proper perspective.
The process of implementing the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation) Act 2014, has been progressing smoothly with the cooperation of the hawkers’ association and various stake holders, despite some hiccups along the way. The opposition expressed by the street vendors and hawkers on June 30, 2025, is not against the implementation of the law per se; rather, it is a protest against recent irregularities that have arisen. These include the issuance of Certificates of Vending (CoV) to individuals who are not genuine hawkers, an issue the organization had objected to during the claims and objections process.
Furthermore, the unilateral decision to relocate vendors to new vending areas without the approval of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) is completely illegal. The discrepancies and flaws in the issued CoVs clearly demonstrate the ineptitude and possibly deliberate attempts by the State to create confusion, thereby denying the poor hawkers and street vendors their right to work and livelihood.
Members of the PTVC, representing the MGSPHSVA have sent several letters strongly petitioning the government to rectify these flaws from the outset. As the process has just started, it is mutually agreed amongst the stakeholders that Khyndai Lad area will be a pilot for the implementation of the Street Vending Law. From day one the MGSPHSVA has earnestly and religiously devoted its time in participating and monitoring the processes of implementation. The Association strongly felt that laying the fair and just foundation in the process of verifying and issuing of CoVs to genuine street vendors and hawkers is a matter of grave importance and thereby rectification of flaws/discrepancies is crucial to prevent future irregularities, unfair practices, and corruption.
In this context, the resistance by the street vendors and hawkers is valid. The State must address and rectify all the issues raised in these correspondences before resuming the processes of relocation, re-spacing etc., as agreed upon by stake holders who are members of the PTVC.
I remain optimistic that with the cooperation of the street vendors and hawkers association, the community and the State, these issues can be resolved amicably and justly.
Yours etc.,
Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh
Via email
Include Theatre in the Film Tourism Policy
Editor,
I appreciate the State Government’s invitation for public feedback “to ensure broad-based participation in shaping the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025” so as to tap the abundant talent available in our state not only in the field of music but also in “strengthening the Local Film Ecosystem and nurturing talent and positioning Meghalaya as a Central Hub for Film Production in the North East” by offering financial and other incentives.
However, it is regrettable that so far, the talent to act and perform through theatre has not been given the priority it deserves. As someone who has been involved with theatre for the past many years, I would like to share that there is a lot of talent in performing arts through drama among school students but which gets wasted once they have passed out from their respective schools because of the absence of institutions to cultivate and enhance these talents. One of the main reasons is the lack of government support.
Theatre is a non-commercial activity, at least for now, in our state, and it is quite expensive to stage, but it is also a stepping-stone to commercial ventures like movies/film production and commercial advertisements in the State as well as in the national and International level.
The FOREVER YOUNG together with the MAITSHAPHRANG had been staging several Street and Stage plays in the past both in Khasi and English. We had also performed two plays on Doordarshan Kendra, Shillong’ and a literacy promotion play for NEHU. The ones posted on Youtube are “Papa Shano Phi Don” and “Burom Ia Uba Iap” both musicals and in Khasi and our latest English musical play “Juliet and Romeo.” Unfortunately, due to inadequate financial assistance from the Government we are not able to stage our plays up to the standards required.
I therefore request the government to include the promotion of theatre as part of this policy , giving the same financial incentives and support and I assure of our commitment to work together in providing a strong platform to take theatre to the next level of professionalism as in the case of Assam, Manipur and other states in India.
Yours etc.,
Michael N. Syiem,
Via email
MeECL using unfair tactics to exploit poor consumers
Editor,
What Salil Gewali has cited through his letter under the caption “High-Voltage Bills Shocked MeECL Consumers,” (ST June 17, 2025) is a very serious concern now among the consumers who have been receiving inflated electricity bills.
When one evaluates the existing billing system and also compares it with that of about nine months ago, there is a big difference. I am surprised that after charging for 75 units electricity consumption as per the fixed rate, MeECL has again charged ₹185 as excess demand charges and Rs 756 as excess energy charges, as per the bill of the recent month June 2025. Suddenly, why has MeECL adopted this method to loot the consumers, which we never saw a year ago? I used to get a bill amount under Rs. 500, but now it has shot up to 1,500 which is three times more.
This has adversely affected the poor who are struggling hard to meet their monthly family expenses. MeECL must stop this looting tactic immediately. The government should take note of the fact that post-COVID-19, lakhs of families are struggling hard to make ends meet as they have lost employment.
Gewali has correctly said that “the state cannot shine when its people are left in the dark and looted, both literally and figuratively.”
Yours etc.,
Mary Wankhar,
Via Email