Street vendors and hawkers in Shillong’s Khyndailad area staged a protest on Monday morning against an eviction drive by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), refusing to vacate until relocation issues are addressed by the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC). The eviction followed a June 21 government notification that designated the upper floor of the MUDA parking lot as a vending zone and declared the rest of Khyndailad a no-vending zone. Supported by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), the vendors criticized flaws in the relocation process, including the failure of a digital survey and the issuance of vending licenses to shop owners instead of genuine hawkers. The MGSPHSVA demanded transparency and a participatory approach to redesign the hawkers’ space, while activist Angela Rangad condemned the forceful evictions, insisting that relocation must be based on a clear, inclusive plan.
