National Advisory Council to be revived
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COMMENTS 
The NAC, responsible for major pro-poor legislations and schemes, is back on track with Sonia Gandhi as its head
The National Advisory Council (NAC), whose term expired in March 2008, is being reconstituted with Congress party president Sonia Gandhi as its head once again.
The NAC, made up of distinguished professionals from the development sector, was set up in 2004 to be an interface with civil society in implementation of the United Progressive Alliance government’s common minimum programme.
It worked on conceptualising and keeping track of such major development schemes and legislations as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Right to Information Act, the Forest Rights Act, and loan waivers for farmers. It produced concept papers on the National Rural Health Mission, the integrated road scheme, and the welfare of tribals, among others.
In March 2006, Sonia Gandhi resigned as chairperson when the opposition alleged that she had violated the ‘office of profit’ principle which requires MPs not to hold offices of profit during their tenure.
Subsequently, one of the NAC’s most prominent members, Aruna Roy, also quit. Economist Jean Dreze had left earlier, reportedly because the Employment Guarantee Bill tabled in Parliament was a watered down version of the first draft.
Sonia Gandhi returns to her post with Parliament passing the Office of Profit Bill that exempts 56 posts, including chairperson of the NAC, from being considered an office of profit.
The council has been revived at a time when the Food Security Bill, Communal Violence Bill and the proposed national law on health and water are being debated by the government.
Source: The Indian Express, March 31, 2010
PTI, March 29, 2010