Protest by Shillong Street Vendors Over License Issues

In Shillong, street vendors, mainly indigenous Khasi women, protested outside the Municipal Board office, alleging unfair revocation of their vending licenses and biased stall allocations. Organized by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association, the protestors demanded a review of the relocation process and transparency in the allocation of stalls. They claimed many legitimate vendors were excluded from the beneficiary list while stalls were given to non-local vendors. The protest follows a recent court ruling regarding vendor relocation, and the vendors are calling for a halt to evictions and a reassessment of the situation. The High Court is set to hear the case on August 5, amid concerns over the process's fairness.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 17:10 IST

Street Vendors Demand Fair Treatment

Shillong, August 1: A group of street vendors, primarily consisting of indigenous Khasi women, gathered outside the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office on Friday to voice their concerns regarding the sudden cancellation of vending licenses and perceived favoritism in stall allocations within the newly established vending area.

The protest was organized by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), which called for an immediate reassessment of the relocation process managed by the SMB and the Urban Affairs Department.

Protesters argued that many legitimate local hawkers, particularly Khasi women, were unjustly left off the final beneficiary list, while stalls were reportedly given to vendors from outside the area.

Holding placards, the demonstrators also presented a memorandum to officials, urging prompt action to address their issues.

One vendor expressed frustration, stating, "Our names were included in the survey, and we received vending certificates. Now, our names are missing, and others have taken our spots."

This protest follows a ruling from the Meghalaya High Court on July 29, which addressed a public interest litigation regarding vendor relocation, noting that the government had adhered to the court's order to relocate certified vendors from Khyndailad to the MUDA Parking Complex by July 22.

According to officials, a survey identified 407 vendors, with 311 receiving Certificates of Vending (CoVs). Currently, 282 stalls at the MUDA complex are occupied.

The relocation is part of the Meghalaya Street Vendors Scheme, 2023.

However, the protesting vendors claimed that the final beneficiary list was never made public, and many certified vendors were excluded without any notification.

They called for a stop to further evictions and demanded a transparent review of stall allocations.

Angela Rngad, a representative of the civil society group Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR), representing MGSPHSVA, cautioned that the protests could escalate if the Town Vending Committee (PTVC) is not convened promptly to address the concerns of vendors whose CoVs were revoked despite their eligibility.

She accused the Shillong Municipal Board of bypassing the PTVC and issuing or revoking vending licenses arbitrarily, potentially benefiting certain individuals.

"This process must involve the PTVC with proper documentation to avoid corruption or bias," she emphasized.

Rngad also highlighted that many legitimate vendors are still waiting for their CoVs and questioned the transparency surrounding vendor eligibility determinations.

Concerns were also raised regarding alleged irregularities in the construction and allocation of stalls within the vending zone.

Meanwhile, the High Court has scheduled the next hearing regarding ongoing issues, including license revocations, for August 5.