Shillong, July 10: Street vendors who earn their livelihood in the Motphran area on Friday staged a protest at the office of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), opposing its reported plan to relocate them to Basa Sohsaw in Iewduh.
Speaking to reporters, Bah Onessimoss Mylliemumlong said all street vendors are against the proposed relocation, stating that it would be inappropriate to shift all vendors to a single location, especially by placing food vendors together with those selling other types of goods.
He also informed that during a meeting with the Acting Chief of Hima Mylliem, Pa’iem Alban Syiem, they were told that the Hima Mylliem office had no information regarding any proposal to relocate street vendors from Motphran to Basa Sohsaw.
Earlier, leaders of the Meghalaya & Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) met the Executive Engineer of the Shillong Municipal Board, Bah F. B. Chyne, seeking clarification on the reported plan to shift the vendors from Motphran to Basa Sohsaw.
“From the very beginning, it is the Shillong Municipal Board that has been creating confusion for the street vendors,” said Bah Thabah.
He said the vendors’ primary demand is for the constitution of a full-fledged Town Vending Committee (TVC). Until such a committee is formed, the vendors will not agree to move from Motphran, as they have already witnessed what transpired three years ago.
Bah Thabah also questioned the Shillong Municipal Board over the utilisation of the ₹6.23 crore reportedly received from the government in the name of street vendors. He alleged that even the budget proposal for constructing vending stalls was never placed before the meeting of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC).
“What is really happening behind the scenes? Decisions are taken on their own, and whenever we raise questions about the funds, the meeting is abruptly adjourned,” Bah Thabah alleged.
