Hawkers’ association extends full support to commercial vehicles indefinite strike

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 8, 2021

The Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers & Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has extended full support to the legitimate demands of the commercial vehicles over the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel.

The emergency executive meeting of the association held on Monday also decided to submit a memorandum to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for his intervention into the matter.

In a statement, the association said on one hand the government is leaking revenue through its inability to control illegal coal mining and transportation while on the other hand it makes an excuse about empty coffers to hike the cess on fuel.

“The petrol hike also cannot be arbitrary as this may result in increase in fares further affecting the working class. Hike in petrol supposedly aimed at revenue collection for the state, but we need to question the transparency and accountability of such revenue because there is so much leakage and corruption that our teachers, muster roll workers, contract workers and even covid workers remain unpaid,” it said.

The association however added, “There is no revenue collection from coal because of the rampant illegality and mafia and the same political leaders talking of revenue collection are actively participating in this continued loot.”

It said that any government policy in a democracy has to be done in consultation with its citizens adding that taxi drivers are on strike because of this lack of including citizens in its decision making.

Stating that the COVID induced lockdown affected the society in varying degrees, the association said, “While the salaried were relatively safer, the unorganised sector workers like taxi drivers and hawkers faced the brunt of the economic lockdowns. The pandemic has affected everyone but most adversely the marginalized and daily wagers. Govt support that was declared never reached most of them.

Taxi drivers saw their livelihood slashed in half even when the economy was opened due to odd and even rules including the number of passengers who they could serve.”