National Advisory Council to focus on pro-poor progammes

NEW DELHI - The National Advisory Council (NAC) on Thursday decided that its primary focus ought to be on the pro-poor programmes.

In NAC’s first meet in its second term, it was resolved that the council’s recommendations to the government should, as far as possible, should be specific and result-oriented, which would facilitate further expeditious action.

Presiding over the NAC’s meet here in the national capital, Chairperson Sonia Gandhi acknowledged the contribution of the earlier NAC especially towards enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

“These laws had enhanced transparency and accountability in administration and promoted the UPA government’s agenda for ‘inclusive growth’,” Ms. Gandhi acknowledged.

Members of the NAC agreed that the council’s work should be to provide policy and legislative inputs to the Government with special focus on social policy and the rights of disadvantaged groups.

It was decided that the NAC would also give attention to the broad priority areas outlined in the President’s speech to the Parliament on June 4, 2009.

In addition, the NAC would review the Flagship programs of the Government and suggest measures to address constraints in their implementation.

The National Advisory Council was constituted vide order dated March 29, 2010. The Members were notified vide order dated 31 May, 2010.

It was decided to hold next meet of the NAC on July 1 to consider the issues relating to the proposed Food Security Bill. (ANI)