Shimla: A committee formed by Himachal Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to develop a policy for street vendors has decided to gather public suggestions and opinions before finalizing its report for the government.
According to reports, the seven-member committee, led by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, includes legislators from both the ruling Congress party and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the committee’s next meeting is scheduled for November 4.
The initiative follows protests concerning the alleged unauthorized section of the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla, which prompted various Hindu groups and trade organizations across the state to call for the identification, registration, and thorough verification of individuals coming to Himachal for work from outside the state.
After Thursday’s meeting, Harshwardhan Chauhan stated, “All members discussed various issues and shared their suggestions. We also requested some clarifications from the Urban Development Department. The committee has opted to seek public input to better understand their perspectives. We have asked the Urban Development Department to invite public suggestions and present them at the next meeting.”
One key suggestion was to include provisions for regulating street vendors operating in rural areas of the state. As a result, the committee has recommended that the government involve Panchayati Raj bodies in rural regions to address this matter and create suitable regulations.
This committee was established on September 20 by Himachal Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania in response to the widespread protests in the state.
