Himachal Pradesh seeks public opinion on street vendor policy

Himachal Pradesh’s Vidhan Sabha committee, led by Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, is set to gather public opinions before finalising rules for street vendors. The committee’s first meeting, attended by top officials, aimed to address statewide protests sparked by unregulated entry of vendors from outside the state.

“The public opinion on street vendors is crucial,” Chauhan emphasised. “We’ll issue advertisements seeking objections and suggestions.” He assured the committee’s decision will prioritise the state’s interests, leveraging members’ experience.

One of the key points of discussion included the regulating vendors in rural areas by involving Panchayati Raj institutions to track vendors entering rural areas.

He said people can submit suggestions to the Urban Development department until November 4. “Once the committee frames the rules, these will be implemented by all the urban local bodies in the state. We need to seek legal opinion on many aspects to ensure rules withstand scrutiny,” he added.

Chauhan clarified the Government of India’s Town Vendors Policy falls under the concurrent list, granting states authority to frame rules.