Shillong, October 22: Street vendors operating along Jail Road in Shillong have accused officials of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) of harassment and discriminatory treatment, alleging that Khasi vendors are being prevented from selling their goods while vendors from outside the state are allowed to operate in the same area.
The allegations were raised by Clarissa Jordana Sohtun, President of the Hynniewtrep Jail Road Street Vendors Association (HJRSVA), who claimed that municipal officials have repeatedly driven away local vendors selling fruits and vegetables along the pedestrian route leading towards Polo.
In a video shared by Sohtun, an argument can be seen taking place between street vendors and individuals identified by the association as SMB personnel.
According to Sohtun, Khasi vendors are allegedly not permitted to sell their goods in the area, even when they attempt to operate near privately owned shops.
She further alleged that municipal officials have continued to harass vendors despite their efforts to avoid occupying permanent spaces along the roadside.
Explaining the difficulties faced by the vendors, Sohtun said some have resorted to carrying fruits and vegetables in baskets rather than setting up fixed stalls.
However, she claimed that even when these vendors briefly sit down to rest and place their baskets on the ground, municipal personnel order them to move.
“Even when they carry their goods in baskets and sit down for a short rest, they are not allowed to remain there and are told to keep moving,” Sohtun alleged.
She also questioned what she described as unequal treatment, claiming that vendors from outside Meghalaya are permitted to conduct business in the area while local Khasi vendors face restrictions.
Sohtun appealed to the state government and the authorities concerned to intervene and allow Khasi vendors to earn their livelihoods along Jail Road.
She clarified that the vendors were not seeking permission to occupy the area throughout the day but were requesting an opportunity to sell their goods during the evening hours, after schoolchildren had returned home.
The association maintained that the vendors depend on their daily earnings and should be given a fair opportunity to conduct their businesses without unnecessary harassment.
Meanwhile, the allegations of discriminatory enforcement against SMB officials remain claims made by the vendors’ association. The municipal board’s response was not available in the information provided.
