Hawkers stage protest in front of Meghalaya secretariat

As the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) intensifies its crackdown on unauthorised hawkers at Khyndai Lad area, a large number of aggrieved hawkers on Tuesday gathered outside the gate of the Meghalaya secretariat building to protest against the civi eviction drive.
The protesting hawkers under the banner of Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) termed the eviction drive carried out by the SMB in Khyndai Lad, a commercial hub here in Meghalaya, as “unilateral” and “illegal”.
The hawkers demanded that the Chairperson of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC), P.K.Boro to convene an emergent meeting to rectify the major flaws in the relocation process.
“If the law is not implemented properly, it will be more dangerous and bring more complications,” Biolin Pyrtuh, President of MGSPHSVA, said.
According to Pyrtuh, the designated vending site at the basement of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority’s office at Police Bazaar is not ideal for business.
She said that there are several other issues that need to be resolved and so the meeting of the PTVC is important. The PTVC also consists of members from the hawkers’ association. The MGSPHSVA also criticised the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar for not taking their concerns seriously.
Chief Executive Officer of SMB, P.K. Boro had said that Board conducted the eviction drive after giving notices as per law.
“We are just following the legal procedure. Notices to relocate to designated vending zones were published in local newspapers,” Boro said.