GUWAHATI: At least 80 street vendors operating near Cotton University and Khao Galli were displaced a day before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the city, leaving them struggling to make ends meet. The sudden eviction, executed without any prior notice, has thrown hundreds of families into a state of uncertainty and financial distress, vendors claim. Many who relied on these small businesses for their daily income now find themselves struggling to make ends meet, with no immediate alternatives or compensation in sight.
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Talking to GPlus, a tea vendor who runs Cottonian Kadak Chai near Cotton University said, “There were 80 street vendors who were removed a day before Amit Shah’s visit. We were not given any prior notice our stalls were just lifted and taken away.”
Another vendor from Khao Galli talking to GPlus said, “Our families depend entirely on this business. Without warning, they used JCBs to break down our stalls and dump everything in Boragaon. We are suffering immensely.”
The impact of the eviction is far-reaching. A vendor who runs Joi Ai Axom near Cotton University highlighted the broader crisis talking to GPlus said, “Each stall supports at least 3-5 people, which means 200 to 250 families have been affected. This is our livelihood—losing it overnight has put us in a desperate situation.”
When contacted, a source in the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) confirmed that the eviction was carried out under instructions from higher authorities. “These orders came from above, and we had to implement them in consultation with other departments,” the source said.
While the vendors struggle to rebuild their lives, the sudden displacement has sparked concerns over the treatment of small business owners in the city. Many are now questioning whether there will be any compensation or alternative arrangements for those affected.
