By Roney Lyndem
The foundation and concrete structure of any just, fair, equal and progressive society rests on the principle of the rule of law. Laws are not merely suggestions; they are the essential framework that ensures fairness, protects rights, and provides clear pathways for resolving conflict.
When this framework is ignored or selectively applied, the result is not just disorder but a deep-seated erosion of public trust and a complete stop to genuine growth and development of any state and society.
For example, the ongoing and often contentious issue of street vendors in Meghalaya serves as a powerful case study of how this failure to implement the law in letter and spirit can create a crisis where none needed to exist in the first place.
At the heart of this matter, is “The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014”. This national legislation was designed to bring order and dignity to street vending, rules and regulations to their work and bring harmony or balance between the livelihoods of vendors with the rights of the public without the drama and unnecessary conflict.
From the start of the formation of the Meghalaya Hawkers Association, the hawkers have expressed their willingness to cooperate and has cooperated with the government and local authorities in conducting the necessary surveys and to implement the Act’s provisions in its entirety. A collaborative approach could have prevented the years of confusion and conflict. However, the persistent failure to adhere to the law by the authorities and their unwillingness to understand or implement the law in letter and spirit especially concerning crucial provisions like the proper constitution of the Town Vending Committee (TVC), has led to widespread discontent and escalated the situation unnecessarily.
It would be a mistake to view this issue as a simple conflict between hawkers and pedestrians as it is being pushed by opinion, media and authorities. While the right to a clear footpath is valid, it cannot be viewed in a vacuum. There is much to it than meets the eye.
In an economy with scarce and non existent employment opportunities, many individuals and families turn to hawking not as a choice, but as a necessity. It is probably the only way they can pay their house rent, send their children to school, cover electricity bills, and put food on the table without fancy education, generational wealth and connections.
If Street Vending is an issue, then the presence of vendors on the streets is a symptom of a much larger, systemic failure of successive governments and bureaucratic bodies that have for decades ignored simple, fixable issues.
The lack of social security and welfare in policy-making has only widened the chasm between the haves and the have-nots, leaving the most vulnerable with no safety net. There is also this constant view and mind-set that policy making is only from the viewpoint of Shillong as the center ignoring much needed attention to surrounding villages and their need in education, healthcare, and so on.
This specific failure is indicative of a broader pattern of governance in the state. For too long, “progress” has also been measured by data on paper rather than by actual prosperity at the grassroots level.
This data-driven approach, often aimed at securing funds from the Central Government and its various Ministries, has severely hampered real development. Key sectors in Meghalaya from education and health to local governance, are in a state of disarray.
Compounding this problem is a severe lack of accountability. While empty promises of accountability and anti-corruption has always made headlines and distract public attention in Meghalaya by different superheroes, the actual audits and social audits, which are meant to be independent checks on government, works and functioning, are often compromised by bureaucracy. When the findings of these audits are critical of the government or do not align with the official narrative of progress, they are frequently shelved or censored. This creates an environment where the law is not black and white, but a murky grey area, open to interpretation and manipulation.
The solution, though challenging, is clear. If the laws on the books were followed in letter and spirit, many of the issues plaguing our state—from the hawkers’ crisis and the violation of workers’ rights to rampant corruption—could be addressed effectively.
True growth and development are not born from the current government methods of entertainment spectacles and mass public distractions, but, they are the direct result of good governance, the consistent application of the law, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of every citizen.
It is thus time to demand a return to the rule of law, for it maybe the only path for the ‘abode of clouds’ to a future that is truly prosperous and just for all.
(Roney Lyndem is a counsellor by profession)
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of 4Front Media or its members.
