On UP lines, Shimla vendors to display their identity

Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh today courted controversy by stating that the government had decided to make it mandatory for all street vendors in the state capital to display their name, photograph and identification as per their ID cards, as has been done in Uttar Pradesh.

“It has been decided that henceforth all street vendors, especially those selling eatables, will have to display their identity,” he said. “This has been done in UP, and we too shall enforce it in Shimla,” he said.

Vikramaditya, son of former CM Virbhadra Singh, incidentally, was one of the few Congress leaders from Himachal who attended the inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. His mother and former MP Pratibha Singh is the state Congress chief.

The minister said the decision had been taken at a meeting with the Urban Development Department and Shimla Municipal Corporation held here yesterday. “A lot of eatables like momos and noodles are being sold by foodstalls… so the Food and Civil Supplies Department will ensure that the food being sold is hygienic,” he said. Also, the display of information will confirm that vendors have a licence.

Vikramaditya said the street vending committee would issue ID cards with photos and registration numbers to vendors. He clarified that the issue regarding the issuance of ID cards only to Himachalis was also discussed, but that wouldn’t be allowed as anyone in India was free to work anywhere.

“The issue was deliberated upon by the previous BJP regime also but since everyone is free to work anywhere, we do not wish to take decisions which will fail judicial scrutiny,” he said, adding that priority, however, would be given to SCs, STs and women while issuing the ID cards.