Puneet Bharti Shukla, one of the civil members of the Cantonment Board, Jalandhar, said that though every person—particularly those belonging to economically weaker sections—has a right to earn their livelihood, cleanliness has to be maintained and rules followed. No notice mentioning restrictions on street vendors has been given by the District Magistrate, the State Government, or the Central Government. It is the duty of the local government to impose health-related regulations without preventing individuals' ways of livelihood.
Recently, a surge in the incidents of diarrhea in the civil portion of the cantonment led the Army Administration and the Cantonment Board to instruct the Health Department to ensure vendors selling golgappas, sugarcane juice, and other cold drinks practice good hygiene and adhere to all guidelines. Yet no formal letter or notice has been made public by the military administration or the Cantonment Board to curb any restrictions on these vendors.
In order to solve the issue of local vendors, Puneet Bharti Shukla took a delegation of 60–70 vendors to meet with the CEOs of the Board. Shukla also met Board Chairman and Sub Area Commander Sunil Sol on the issue and ascertained that no curbs have been sought or imposed.
Shukla made it clear that street vending is allowed in the civilian sectors of the cantonment, as long as vendors follow cleanliness and health department guidelines strictly. But he also made it clear that installing street vending stalls within army camps or restricted military zones would be out of the question due to health and security reasons. In such a scenario, the Army Police could act accordingly.
In short, no action will be initiated against street hawkers selling goods in the Chowpatty and civil parts of the cantonment, provided that they follow all cleanliness and health rules.