While passing through Gandhi Nagar, one can easily catch a sight of the vibrant rehri zone, teeming with street food lovers. If you haven’t noticed lately, there’s something new about this place – an aesthetic appeal with uniformly designed food kiosks or rehris.
Nearly 75 street food rehris in a row, panning from Last Morh to Government College for Women, have built a bamboo hut-like structure, attracting attention and acclaim alike.
Manjot Singh, a local, enjoying his favourite Kaladi Kulcha, opines that Jammu Municipal Corporation has come to recognise the popular patronage of street vendors, and set the ball rolling with beautification of rehris in Gandhi Nagar.
“Street food forms an intrinsic part of any city’s culinary heritage, and is considered culturally and economically important. Directed and guided by Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, JMC took an initiative to beautify these rehris in a uniform pattern,” says Sunaina Sharma (KAS), Secretary, JMC.
She adds, “We held a meeting with representatives of Gandhi Nagar Rehri Zone to deliberate on something that is feasible and acceptable to one and all. That is when a bamboo hut-like structure was agreed upon.”
Much interestingly, the rehri owners have spent money from their pocket, not less than ten thousand, to redesign and rebuild their rehris.
Although the interiors of the kiosks are still made of plastic, steel or iron, the use of eco-friendly bamboo for exteriors has provided some optimism.
“It is a good step. A better step would be to use bamboo for the whole of the kiosk, and given its versatility, its use should be popularised. JMC can even use recycled plastic waste to build hard-wearing kiosks, and contribute to solving the plastic menace,” suggests one of nature’s well-wisher.
Jagdish, ‘Dosa Corner’ owner, raises doubt on the durability of bamboo, but is happy with the new look his rehri has got to flaunt.
Pointing towards metered electricity connections, individual dustbins, and JMC dustbins, Ajay, son of Pappu Dogra (union leader of Gandhi Nagar rehri owners), says that they have been intimated of more facilities in near future, such as water connections.
“The nallah in the backdrop will be covered, increasing the space for visitors on this side of the road. This will help solve the traffic issue on highway.” His joy of owning a dhaba-like rehri is visible.
“Often one feels the irresistible urge and he/she digs into roadside delights. Cheap, fresh and flavorful Indian street food is to swear by. The problem is hygiene. If the food rehris are beautified and sustainably developed, public utilities, like toilets, in the vicinity, what more can we ask for,” points out Aakriti.
Starting the initiative with Gandhi Nagar Rehri Zone makes sense when it is perhaps the only functional, rather, flourishing rehri zone in Jammu City. Existence along the state highway that facilitates VIPs, tourists, besides general populace, adds to its status.
“Not very long ago, these rehris plied on congested Apsara road, and were shifted to their current settlement, under the directions of Mandeep Kour, former JMC Commissioner. In just 3 years, it has become a prime location for street food. We receive numerous requests from new and existing rehri owners to allot them the aforesaid zone. However we are not giving any license at present.” states Sunil Gupta, Revenue Officer, JMC.
With the implementation of Street Vendors Act, 2014, it has been widely realized that street vendors and hawkers are too entitled to social security and livelihood rights, and that they can also be a part of modern and developed cities.
“Jammu and Kashmir is yet to pass such an act, but JMC has started working on similar lines,” asserts Prem Singh Chib, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, JMC.
He adds, “Our aim is to bring in dignified and orderly operation of street vendors and hawkers, who have been an informal but significant workforce for years. Setting up permanent rehri zones and their development is just the starting.”
Secretary JMC notifies that their plan is to replicate the idea at other places as well, to enhance the overall look of the city. “Bahu Fort and Janipur rehri zones are the next in line.”
“We are working out on a plan for other rehri owners, who have licenses for rehri zones but work at other places, complaining of fewer customers. We do not want to harass them or cause losses when their redesigned rehris are lifted from non-rehri zones,” mentions Revenue Officer, JMC.
When asked what follows next, ACR JMC reveals, “We have identified 15-16 sites in new Wards where street vendors can move around to sell their goods and services. A few projects in the pipeline include an online system to upload and verify documents, unique IDs for each rehri owner, insurance and pension policies.”
Also: Read my article at THE DISPATCH
Upscaling rehris – the bamboo way
https://www.thedispatch.in/upscaling-rehris-the-bamboo-way/
waliaharry 