Shillong: The Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has strongly condemned the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) for what it calls an unlawful and arbitrary eviction and relocation drive of hawkers from Khyndai Lad to the MUDA parking lot.
The association alleged that the move, carried out on July 23, 2025, was executed in blatant violation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, as well as a High Court order dated July 3, 2025.
In a statement issued by Shane Thabah, General Secretary of the MGSPHSVA, the association claimed to have submitted four detailed representations to the Special Officer appointed by the High Court, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Chairperson of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC), highlighting serious procedural lapses and legal violations. According to Thabah, the relocation exercise was conducted without any consultation with the hawkers’ associations or the PTVC and was marked by a lack of transparency and preparedness.
He said the absence of a final verified list of licensed vendors, as mandated by the High Court, has led to the exclusion of genuine hawkers and inclusion of ineligible individuals. Multiple contradictory and error-filled lists were released, and yet no corrective measures have been taken by the authorities, forcing street vendors to stage a protest outside the SMB office on August 1.
Thabah further alleged that eviction notices were served to vendors via WhatsApp in the early hours of July 23, leaving them with only a few hours to vacate. He said the relocation was carried out despite the absence of a final list, making the entire exercise illegal and done in bad faith. The new vending site at MUDA Parking Lot, he added, remains under construction and lacks basic facilities such as water, toilets, waste disposal, and safe electrical fittings. The stalls, constructed without consulting vendors or the PTVC, are also reportedly unsuitable for different trades.
The association also criticised the process of stall allotment, stating that there were no Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and that a last-minute “lucky draw” led to confusion, duplicate allotments, and a complete lack of accountability. Thabah said that over 106 surveyed vendors have been left without licenses and no designated place to vend, while food vendors were pushed indoors into unhygienic and cramped spaces, contrary to previous promises of outdoor locations.
In response to these developments, the MGSPHSVA has demanded the immediate convening of the PTVC to address the concerns raised and to initiate participatory planning for the MUDA vending site. A notice for a PTVC meeting on August 6 has been issued following the August 1 protest. The association is also demanding the re-spacing of the Khyndai Lad area, redesign of the MUDA site based on vendors’ needs, issuance of Certificates of Vending (CoVs) to all eligible hawkers, and a transparent grievance redressal system. Additionally, it called for the public disclosure of all contracts and expenditures related to the MUDA site to ensure accountability and prevent corruption.
Thabah also raised concerns over the SMB’s unilateral issuance of CoVs to individuals vending in other parts of Shillong, a move he described as arbitrary and illegal since the PTVC has not yet initiated processes for any area beyond the designated stretch in Khyndai Lad. He urged authorities to halt this practice immediately.
Declaring a complete rejection of the current process, the MGSPHSVA accused the authorities of ignoring repeated attempts by the association to engage in constructive dialogue. Thabah said the result of this negligence has been the large-scale displacement of vendors, disorder, and immense distress among those who have long earned their livelihoods with honesty and resilience.
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