Himachal Pradesh’s New Street Vendor Policy
Jairam Thakur Welcomes the Decision
Jairam Thakur, the Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, has welcomed the state government’s decision to verify and register street vendors. He expressed hope that Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh would remain firm on this decision.
Thakur stated, “I welcome this decision of the government if they plan on implementing this. Street vendor policy existed earlier, but the Congress government stopped it. In HP we feel that this policy is a necessity. If they change their stand after pressure from party leadership, it will be understandable because it has happened before as well. We hope that Vikramaditya Singh will be firm on his decision. We welcome the decision on verification and registration of street vendors which is being done on the lines of Uttar Pradesh government.”
Vikramaditya Singh’s Announcement
On Wednesday, Vikramaditya Singh announced that it would be mandatory for all shopkeepers and street vendors in Himachal Pradesh to display their identity cards. However, after facing criticism, the government clarified on Thursday that no such decision had been taken.
Singh explained that the decision for eateries and shops to display the names of owners was to maintain the state’s internal security. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the state government and everyone to maintain peace in the state.
Singh said, “Anyway, shops normally display their registration number and so on…But this is for the internal security of the state and the apprehensions that have been raised, this needs to be seen that way. An all-party committee has also been constituted and that would look into every detail…There can be no compromise with internal security concerns of the state.”
Congress’s Response
Congress faced an embarrassing situation as it had previously opposed a similar “display nameplate” rule for eateries in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Rajiv Shukla, AICC Himachal Pradesh incharge, stated that it would not be right to compare the street vendor policy with the Yogi model in Uttar Pradesh.
Shukla said, “Vidhan Sabha chairman has formed a committee. The vendors who sit on random places should be given a proper place, should be given a license, should be regulated so that police do not remove them. It is not that they have to put a board with a nameplate. Vikramaditya has also clarified. No such order has been issued yet. It has nothing to do with Yogi model.”
Formation of a Committee
Last week, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania formed a seven-member committee led by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan to create a policy for street vendors. This proposal came after massive protests over illegal construction in Shimla’s Sanjauli mosque, highlighting the need for a policy to identify, verify, and register street vendors.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and cool weather.
Street Vendor Policy -: A street vendor policy is a set of rules made by the government to help and manage people who sell things on the streets.
Jairam Thakur -: Jairam Thakur is a politician in India who is the Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh. This means he is a leader of the party that is not currently in power.
Vikramaditya Singh -: Vikramaditya Singh is the Public Works Minister in Himachal Pradesh. He is responsible for building and maintaining roads and buildings.
Identity cards -: Identity cards are small cards that have important information about a person, like their name and photo, to prove who they are.
Congress -: Congress is one of the major political parties in India. It has many leaders and members who work in different states.
Seven-member committee -: A seven-member committee is a group of seven people chosen to work together to make decisions or create plans, like the new policy for street vendors.
Illegal construction -: Illegal construction means building something without permission from the government, which can cause problems and be unsafe.
Shimla -: Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, known for its beautiful hills and as a popular tourist destination.
