Street Vendors Demand Transparency in Shillong Allocation
Street vendors, primarily women, protested outside the Shillong Municipal Board office, alleging unfair revocation of vending licenses and biased stall allocations in the new vending zone. Under the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association, they demand a transparent review of the relocation process, expressing concerns over exclusion from the beneficiary list.
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In Shillong, a protest surged outside the Municipal Board office as street vendors, mainly women, alleged arbitrary license revocations and biased stall allocations in the new vending zone. The demonstration, spearheaded by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association, called for a review of the relocation process.
Protesters accused the authorities of overlooking genuine local hawkers, particularly Khasi women, while allegedly favoring non-local vendors. Holding placards, they submitted a memorandum seeking redressal, claiming that their names, although listed in surveys and certified, were replaced.
Angela Rngad, from the civil society group Thma U Rangli-Juki, vocalized discontent over the apparent exclusion from the final beneficiary list and stalled allocations without transparency. The association demands an assessment of the vending zone plan, emphasizing fairness for small-scale vendors. The protest may intensify if grievances remain unaddressed.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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