Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya officials cleared street vendors from Polo and Jail Road on July 28. Workers moved to new vending zones at a parking lot near the State Bank of India and a site close to Matri Mandir. The state aims to clear sidewalks and cut traffic.
Vendors previously working from the OB Shopping Mall to the MTC complex now occupy the SBI parking lot stalls. The Matri Mandir zone holds 132 stalls with 70 currently filled. The SBI parking lot has 79 stalls, with 9 occupied. Another 22 vendors from Secretariat Hills and IGP Junction arrive this Wednesday.
The Town Vending Committee held 29 meetings to manage the transition. Officials claim the move was voluntary. "Our efforts to create a cleaner, safer and more organized Shillong are moving forward while protecting the dignity and livelihoods of our street vendors," Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said.
Vendors with a Certificate of Vending qualify for the Chief Minister’s Urban Livelihood Grant. This payout totals 20,000 rupees. It includes an upfront 10,000 rupees and a 2,000 rupee monthly stipend for five months. Authorities issued 65 certificates for the SBI lot and 106 for the Matri Mandir area.
The Urban Affairs Department plans to shift Laitumkhrah vendors by August 17. They intend to house all registered vendors in designated spots by late September. Future vending outside these zones will be illegal.
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