Shillong, July 1: In a strong display of discontent and unity, hundreds of hawkers and street vendors gathered in Shillong on Monday to protest against the ongoing crackdown on footpath businesses and to demand a meeting with officials of the Police Town Vending Committee (PTVC). The protest, which took place near the Secretariat, highlighted the growing tension between local vendors and the authorities over street vending rights and livelihood concerns.

The protesters, many of whom were women, expressed frustration over what they described as “unfair treatment” by municipal authorities and the police. Their primary demand was to hold a formal dialogue with the PTVC and the Secretariat officer responsible for urban vending issues. The vendors hoped to present their grievances and seek protection for their businesses, which they claim have been under constant threat from repeated evictions and confiscations of goods.

“We came here peacefully to speak to the officers, to explain our problems. We are not criminals. We are working hard to earn a living,” said a female vendor who has been selling fruits on the footpath in Police Bazar for over a decade. She, like many others, said they are willing to cooperate with regulations, but want the government to treat them with dignity and not push them into deeper poverty.

Despite their peaceful intentions, the vendors were blocked by police from entering the Secretariat premises. A large contingent of security personnel had been deployed to prevent any disruption or breach of security. The police argued that prior permission is required for such gatherings within government complexes and that the Secretariat was not the right forum for the protest.

This move angered the protesting hawkers, who shouted slogans demanding justice, inclusion in vending policies, and protection from sudden evictions. “We don’t want charity, we want the right to work,” said another protester holding a placard that read, “Implement Street Vendors Act, 2014 in Meghalaya!”

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, enacted at the national level, mandates the formation of Town Vending Committees (TVCs) in every urban local body. These committees are supposed to regulate and protect the rights of vendors while ensuring civic order. However, the vendors allege that the Police Town Vending Committee (PTVC) has failed to consult them or include real vendors in the decision-making process.

“We are demanding transparency and inclusion. Many vendors are not even aware of who sits in the PTVC. It is our right to be part of that discussion,” said a representative of the hawker’s union who helped organize the protest.

So far, there has been no official response from the Secretariat or the Urban Affairs Department regarding the incident. However, the protest has caught the attention of civil society organizations, local NGOs, and human rights groups, who are now calling for urgent intervention and open dialogue between authorities and street vendors.

If no meeting is granted and the eviction drives continue without proper rehabilitation, hawker groups have threatened to intensify their protests in the coming days.

The standoff highlights the urgent need for inclusive urban planning in Shillong that safeguards the livelihoods of informal workers while balancing the city’s developmental needs. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on the PTVC and the Meghalaya government to see whether they will engage constructively with the vendors or continue to keep them at arm’s length.