Hawkers’ relocation issue: MGSPHSVA threatens legal action against minister

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 2, 2025

The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has threatened to take legal action against Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh for accusing its leaders of deliberately obstructing the relocation of hawkers at Khyndailad area.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, general secretary Shane Thabah said the association strongly objects to Lyngdoh’s press statement, which insinuated that they are obstructing relocation.

“We urge the minister to substantiate his allegations against the association, else we will be forced to take legal remedies against him,” he warned.

Accusing of Lyngdoh of failing to do anything during his tenure as urban affairs minister of the state, Thabah said, “It is not surprising given the record of this career politician to be issuing such  statements, but it is shameful  nonetheless, especially given that he was also once an urban affairs minister who never thought of or did anything about this issue. Even after he lost the elections, if he was an engaged citizen who truly cares for this town he would have offered his two bits in all these years.”

The association claimed that it was instrumental in ensuring the adoption of the central law on hawking in Meghalaya after a seven-year court battle.

Thabah also stated that the government has delayed the implementation of the law and is now trying to subvert its proper and transparent implementation.

According to him, the association objected to the haphazard issuing of licenses to non-genuine hawkers, denial of licenses to genuine hawkers, and the recent evictions that were illegal and caused chaos in the Khyndailad area.

“We who are members of the Provisional Town Vending Committee know where the process is at, we know that a second list is awaited and that we had agreed to a phased manner of issuing of CoV. So the threat that there is a deadline of 22nd July to shift does not cut ice with us, because we have never agreed to even such a date,” he said adding “For us if the processes were properly in place and the space made ready through collaborative planning and designing with us, as agreed upon in the PTVC, we can move even before the 22! But fact remains that there are anomalies in the process that need addressing, else it will only compound the issues.” 

Thabah also claimed that the government’s claims about the number of vendors surveyed and eligible for licenses are also false and misleading.

“Furthermore, it is also a blatant lie that “relocation infrastructure” is in place,” he added.

Thabah said that discussions in the PTVC are still ongoing as also the government support pledged towards the hawkers during relocation.

“In fact we had put in apprehensions that in the absence of mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability we do not wish for such transactions that may in fact turn out to be an avenue for corruption in the name of hawkers,” he stated while urging those in govt to refrain from wilfully misleading the public on the hawker issue.

The association condemned the municipal authorities’ continued law and order situation in the Khyndailad area, where forceful illegal evictions and intimidation tactics are being used.

Thabah stated that the association will not be deterred from demanding that the law be implemented in letter and spirit.