'Public Opinion Important': Panel Invites Suggestions Over Draft Policy For Himachal Street Vendors

Shimla: A committee tasked with developing a policy for street vendors in Himachal Pradesh held its first meeting on Thursday. 

The panel decided to gather public feedback before finalizing the regulations, which will also include guidelines for vendors in rural areas. 

The seven-member committee, led by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, was formed on September 20 following a decision made by the assembly, as announced by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.

Panel Invites Public Suggestions

"It was discussed that there is a need to regulate and control vendors in rural areas and the committee today gave a suggestion to the state government that Panchayati Raj bodies in the rural areas should also think and form rules to regulate the vendors in rural areas," Chauhan told media persons here after the meeting.

Opinion of the general public is important and their suggestions or objections would be sought through newspapers, emails, and social media before framing rules for the vendors' policy, he said, adding suggestions and clarifications on some issues have been sought and the next meeting is scheduled on November 4.

Vendors policy is a part of the concurrent list but the state government has the power to frame rules and information was provided by the urban development department on the central vendors law of 2014, vending rules made by Himachal Pradesh in 2016, and provisions of the state vendors scheme 2016, he said.

In urban areas, the policy would be implemented by the urban bodies. There are several issues and all aspects would be taken into consideration like identification of vending zones, rates, categories and space to be allotted to vendors, the role of town vendors committee, and legal opinion would also be sought, Chauhan added.

BJP legislator Randhir Sharma said the members suggested amendments in the act which will be examined legally and added that there is a provision for displaying identity cards by the vendors under the act made by the Centre.

The demand for registration of outside workers with their real identity was made by protesters seeking the demolition of unauthorized portions of a mosque at the Sanjauli area here and demonstrations were held across the state by Hindu groups.

The protesters had also demanded that street vendor licenses be given only to locals and that antecedents of migrant workers be verified.

(With inputs from PTI)