Shillong, July 1: Members of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) staged a protest in front of the secretariat against the alleged illegal eviction drive at Khyndailad and demanded an emergency meeting of the provisional town vending committee (PTVC) to rectify the flaws.
The protesting hawkers, supported by Thma U Rangli Juki, claimed that the eviction drive was unilateral and illegal, as it targeted vendors who had certificates of vending.
Angela Rangad, speaking on behalf of the hawkers, stated that the PTVC chairperson, who is also the CEO of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), authorized the eviction drive without following due process.
Rangad emphasised that the hawkers had gone to court demanding implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, and were working with the PTVC to implement the law.
However, the SMB’s actions were contrary to the law and would create more complications.
The hawkers demanded an emergency meeting of the PTVC to address the issues and warned that if the law is not implemented properly, it will be more dangerous and bring more complications.
They also criticized the Deputy Chief Minister, who is in charge of urban affairs, for not taking their concerns seriously.
“We have demanded that he (deputy CM) summon the files so that he understands where the process is at the moment and understand why yesterday’s action was illegal and we are also demanding that there should be an emergency PTVC meeting,” Rangad said.
 staged a protest in front of the secretariat against the alleged illegal eviction drive at Khyndailad and demanded an emergency meeting of the provisional town vending committee (PTVC) to rectify the flaws.){kind=link}