Hawkers forced to restart livelihood activities in Shillong, says govt failed to address their issues

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 18, 2020

The Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers & Street Vendors’ Association (MGSPHSVA) on Tuesday started organizing the unlocking of hawkers and street vendors’ livelihood in Shillong by ensuring social distancing, odd and even rule and timing.

Based on the last digit of the membership ID number, the members are being classified on the odd and even basis.

Every member has been issued an official ID by the association which the members will wear while conducting their business.

The ID number ending with 0,2,4,6,8 will sit on Monday, Wednesday & Friday while ID number ending with 1,3,5,7,9 will sit on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The organization began their campaign of this arrangement and protocol by establishing their business space in vending spaces at Khyndailad, Motphran, Bimola and GS Road.

Many members were carrying placards with slogans like “If we don’t work, we will die”, “For five months, we have been eating for only half a stomach so our children won’t starve, but now we have to do the needful and earn before we all starve”, “We cooperated and  waited for the government to think of our plight, but their silence forced us to come out and reclaim our livelihood”

In a statement, the MGSPHSVA said that it had submitted multiple memoranda to the Meghalaya government regarding the desperate situation faced by the hawkers in these COVID times, and met with several political and bureaucratic heads.

“But the government has shown its inability to sort out the issue and ensure the hawkers are not driven to starvation,” it said.

The Association also informed that it will be responsible only for its registered members who are longstanding genuine hawkers, whose list has already been submitted to the government and  High Court of Meghalaya.

It also appealed to the government to support the association and start proactive implementation of the central law on hawking besides releasing the cash support for the hawkers and daily wage workers as the promised at Rs 700 in 3 installments has not arrived till now.