Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma reviews rehabilitation of Polo street vendors in Shillong
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited the Polo Vendors’ Market in Shillong to review the rehabilitation of relocated street vendors and to disburse grants for
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited the Polo Vendors’ Market in Shillong on Wednesday. The visit focused on the ongoing rehabilitation of street vendors, their day-to-day business at the new location, and support being provided under the Chief Minister’s Urban Livelihood Grant (CM ULG).
CM ULG assistance linked to valid vending certificates
During the visit, the Chairman of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) briefed the chief minister on how the market functions. The briefing also covered the relocation of vendors from the Polo and Jail Road areas to the new vending zone. Sangma said the effort is meant to help the public walk freely while offering financial support to vendors affected by the move.
Under the CM ULG, vendors holding a valid Certificate of Vending (CoV) are eligible for assistance of Rs 20,000. The grant includes an immediate payment of Rs 10,000 and monthly support of Rs 2,000 for five months. Sangma distributed cheques during the market visit as part of the assistance programme.
Market layout and stalls for relocated vendors
The Polo Vendors’ Market has been set up on a 2,270-square-metre site, with the vending area spread across 620 square metres. The market has 132 stalls in total. Of these, 48 have been allotted to vendors from Polo and 84 to vendors from Jail Road. The report states that 72 vendors have taken possession of their allocated stalls so far.
The relocation is carried out under the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023, through the Urban Affairs Department and the East Khasi Hills district administration. The rehabilitation work, which had earlier covered Khyndailad and near Civil Hospital, has now extended to the Polo and Jail Road stretches. The market includes civic amenities such as toilets at the Polo Municipal Market. For visibility during evenings, LED bulbs have been installed in stalls, and eight halogen lamps have been provided.
The vending zones accommodate different categories of vendors selling vegetables, fruits, garments, fast food, fish, chicken and pan products. Sangma later visited different sections of the market and interacted with vendors to understand their business conditions after relocation.
