SHILLONG, Aug 8: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has demanded immediate examination and issuance of certificates of vending (CoVs) to genuine hawkers who have been denied the same.
The association said it has been addressing other issues raised by the association, including the wrongful denial of CoVs to genuine hawkers and their forceful relocation on July 24.
MGSPHSVA president Biolin Pyrtuh argued that these are genuine hawkers who have been surveyed and no reasons as per law have been given to them for this wrongful denial of the CoV.
Pyrtuh also questioned the urgency of the relocation, as people who live hand-to-mouth through vending have not been able to earn their living for one whole month.
She pointed out that the number of stalls constructed in the MUDA parking lot has far exceeded the numbers agreed upon in previous minute decisions of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC). She demanded answers as to how this was done and who permitted it.
She stated that it has been agreed and minutes that the MUDA frontage will also be used for hawkers, but they were informed in the meeting of August 6 without being given documents or records that the same can no longer be used contrary to a decision legally taken as per law in the PTVC.
She objected to this unilateral decision of taking away the MUDA frontage from street vendors and demanded a complete list of those who have been issued COV and assigned a stall indicating names, COV number, and stall number.
The association warned that if such glaring illegalities continue, it will force them to take recourse to other legal provisions.
