For street vendors’ policy, public views to be sought: Chauhan
The Vidhan Sabha committee constituted by Speaker Kuldeep Pathania to formulate a policy for street vendors in the state will elicit the opinion of the public before framing rules to be implemented by various municipalities and urban local bodies.
The first meeting of the committee headed by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan was held at the Vidhan Sabha here today. The members of the committee, namely Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh, Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh, MLAs Anil Sharma, Satpal Singh Satti, Randhir Sharma and Harish Janartha, attended the meeting.
Chauhan said, “Knowing public opinion on the street vendors’ issue is important and as such we have directed the Principal Secretary (Urban Development) to seek objections and suggestions from people by issuing advertisements.” He assured the meeting that the committee’s decision would be in the interest of the state and its people, as all members were very senior and mature people.
The issue of unregulated entry of vendors into Himachal from other states in a large number has sparked statewide protests, necessitating the setting up of a policy for street vendors. “The need for a proper record of vendors, who go to rural areas, was also raised at the meeting. Hence, panchayati raj institutions will also be involved in the exercise,” he added.
Chauhan said that people could give their suggestions to the Urban Development Department, which would be deliberated upon in the next meeting on November 4. “All urban local bodies in Himachal will implement the rules framed by the committee. We need to seek the opinion of the Law Department so that these rules could withstand legal scrutiny,” he added.
He said that the Town Vendors Policy of the Central Government falls in the concurrent list but the power to frame rules was with the states, as per their specific requirements.
The committee sought details from the Urban Development Department about the sites where street vendor zones could be set up, how many categories of zones to be set up and the licence fees.
Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma said that the committee decided to give an opportunity to the people of the state to present their suggestions on the street vendors’ policy. “A presentation on the Central Government’s Street Vendors Act, 2014, and the rules made by the Himachal Government in 2016 was also made. If required, amendments and new rules could made as per the requirement,” he added.
