Dharmasala: The Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, has announced a new street vendor policy aimed at enhancing accountability among vendors, food sellers, and hoteliers across the state. Following numerous public complaints, the new regulations will require all street vendors to display identity cards, as part of efforts to ensure better transparency in the service sector.
Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh confirmed that the decision, inspired by a similar initiative in Uttar Pradesh, was taken after consultations with the Urban Development Department and Municipal Corporation. “We have received several concerns from the public, particularly regarding food vendors. This policy will ensure that vendors prominently display their names and identity cards,” Singh said.
The policy mandates that every vendor involved in selling food and beverages must display their name, along with a photograph and relevant identification. The Street Vending Committee will oversee the registration and issuance of these ID cards to ensure all vendors comply with the new rules.
This policy mirrors measures introduced by Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, who directed food vendors and hoteliers in the state to display names, addresses, and personal identification. The directive came in response to incidents of food contamination, with reports of unhygienic practices like spitting and mixing waste in food.
As part of the broader policy, chefs and waiters in Himachal Pradesh will also be required to wear masks and gloves, while CCTV cameras will be made mandatory in hotels and restaurants to further improve hygiene standards. Strict action will be taken against vendors found adulterating food or engaging in unsanitary practices.
Vikramaditya Singh, in a social media post, also shared news from Uttar Pradesh featuring CM Yogi’s picture, highlighting the importance of such measures in ensuring public safety and vendor accountability.
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