Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma handed out Rs 20,000 to each street vendor shifted to new zones in Barik and Dhankheti on Monday. The aid package starts with an instant Rs 10,000 Direct Benefit Transfer, followed by five monthly payments of Rs 2,000. Sangma distributed these cheques at the Brightwell Bungalow in the presence of Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai, East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, and Urban Affairs staff. The trio even stopped to eat momos at the stalls to signal their support.
Relocation attempts to clear clogged footpaths and roads involve 785 total vendors moved across three distinct phases. The project began on July 23, 2025, when 387 vendors moved from Khyndai Lad to the MUDA Parking Lot. Later, on July 28, vendors from MTC, Jail Road, and Polo shifted to the Polo Hawkers Market and the SBI-adjacent SMB lot. The final phase hit Laitumkhrah, Dhankheti, Malki, Barik, Laban, and Last Stop on August 17.
Current distribution shows 387 vendors at the MUDA Market, 138 at Brightwell Campus, 119 at Polo, 75 at the SBI-facing lot, 37 at Dhankheti, and 29 at the PWD Campus in Barik. Sangma noted the task was delicate. He said, "Though it may look like a small and simple step, it is one of the most challenging situations that we have faced because it is not only about development but linked with the livelihood of the people and the overall beautification of the city." The government aims to outfit these new hubs with toilets, lighting, and seating to draw crowds.
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