People’s commission to hold public hearing on eviction of street vendors in Shimla
Shimla, August 21
The People’s Commission (Jan Aayog) would hold a special public hearing on August 23 to examine issues concerning the livelihoods, rights and challenges faced by street vendors (Teh-Bazaris) in Shimla city.
The hearing would be held from 3 pm to 6 pm at Rotary Town Hall on The Mall, Shimla. Street vendors and other affected persons would have an opportunity to directly present their grievances, experiences and suggestions before the Commission.
The hearing comes amid concerns over the eviction and displacement of street vendors, access to vending spaces, rehabilitation, licensing and protection of livelihoods. The Commission would examine the submissions made during the hearing and formulate suggestions and recommendations on the issues raised by the affected communities.
A large number of people in Shimla depend on street vending and small businesses for their livelihood. The organisers said the public hearing would provide an opportunity to bring their concerns and experiences into the public domain in a systematic manner.
The People’s Commission is chaired by Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma, retired Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Its members include Dr Amar Singh Sankhyan, retired Professor of Himachal Pradesh University; Adarsh Kumar Sood, first Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation; advocate Bharti Verma; senior journalist Anand Sharma; advocate Manika Singh; and human rights activist Ashok Kumar.
The Himalayan Centre for Human Development, which is organising the hearing, said development and beautification of Shimla should go hand in hand with protection of the livelihoods and rights of street vendors who have been part of the city’s economy and civic life for years.
The Centre appealed to street vendors, civil society organisations, citizens’ groups, lawyers, journalists and members of the public to participate in the hearing and share their experiences, concerns and suggestions.
Ashok Kumar, Chairperson of the Himalayan Centre for Human Development, said ensuring that the voices of street vendors are heard and that they are treated with dignity, fairness and justice was an important objective of the public hearing.
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