“A Chapter Unwritten: Locals React to Book House Delay”

Kartik Sharma (Shimla): The book cafe in New Shimla, which was made under the Smart City project, has its infrastructure completed but remains locked for the common people’s access. 

The proposal for the cafe was initiated by The President of Sector-3 Resident Welfare Society, Swaraj Lalit, who said that it was their dream to have a community hall for the nearby residents, Similar to the other nearby sectors in New Shimla, each of which had its facility or amenity.

“Controversy Over Repurposed Community Building”

There was no major controversy, but a building initially proposed to serve as a community hall was later repurposed into a book café intended to function as a library for local children. Eventually, it became a store for ‘HimEra,’ a brand that sources organic and traditional products crafted by self-help groups (SHGs) in remote areas.

In response to this, Nisha Thakur, the counselor of the New Shimla region, voiced the opinion of the local people in the house, asserting that the infrastructure should have been solely for the nearby community or children. She emphasized that at least one floor of the building must be used for its intended purpose.

What can the Cafe be used for 

The local children and the community eagerly await the removal of the lock, and the space can be used for the Youva for discussion of their matters, or to organize a meal for the death anniversary of someone who has left for heavenly abode, or of course for silently reading a book in the calm. 

A floor at the basement has already been given to the SHGs as per the claims via HimEra, where ofcourse betterment of the Rural Women is taking place.The cafe already has an almirah full of books that are eagre to be read by the readers. This could be observed with the transparent glass of the locked walls.
The building’s status is yet a cold controversy with a lock, latching the rights of community and potential individuals.