By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 24: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has objected to a recent notification issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, who also serves as Secretary of the Probationary Town Vending Committee (PTVC).
The November 14 notification, published in a local newspaper, directed several individuals to appear before the committee for claims and objections.
According to the association, the move has come as a shock not only to its members but also to the PTVC members, as the matter was never discussed or approved in any PTVC meeting.
In a statement, MGSPHSVA adviser Angela Rangad questioned the unilateral decision of the PTVC Secretary, pointing out that “there has been no discussion whatsoever regarding the issuance of this notification, nor was there any decision to set up such a Committee.”
She added that the association has repeatedly demanded a proper Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the claims and objections process, especially after alleged confusion and arbitrary denials when the Certificates of Vending (COVs) were being issued in Khyndai Lad.
Despite submitting the draft SOP to the PTVC and Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), these issues remain unaddressed, the association said.
Rangad highlighted major discrepancies in the in-situ survey conducted across Shillong in December 2023.
While approximately 43 genuine hawkers operate in the Civil Hospital area, the survey reportedly recorded only 29.
She said that matters worsened when the SMB released a list on May 27, 2024, declaring only 14 vendors as “eligible,” although no claims-and-objections process had taken place.
The association alleged that more than 50% of the hawkers surveyed in situ were excluded without justification, and were not even provided an opportunity to contest the decision.
The MGSPHSVA adviser pointed out that the November 14 notification contained only 12 names, including individuals who were never surveyed.
She argued that a proper claims-and-objections process must include all 15 surveyed but rejected vendors, as well as the 14 others left out of the survey, totalling 29 long-time hawkers.
The MGSPHSVA also stressed that issuing licenses without a fair and transparent verification process could lead to “corruption, injustice, and abuse of power.”
The association maintained that the objective of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, is to safeguard longstanding vendors, not to exclude them through unclear procedures.
The association also addressed the proposed temporary relocation of vendors while construction takes place at the Civil Hospital vending site. Although MGSPHSVA participated in a joint inspection of the alternative site, it insisted that vendors should move only after a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed.
The MoU must clearly state that the site is temporary and that a permanent vending space at Civil Hospital will be completed within a fixed time frame, the association said.
It reiterated that relocation will take place only after a fair claims-and-objections process is completed for all genuine vendors.
