Date:15/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/15/stories/2004081502400300.htm

Back NAC forwards two Bills to Govt

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Aug. 14

THE National Advisory Council (NAC) to the Congress-led UPA coalition decided on Saturday to forward the draft National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004, and the suggested amendments to the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 (proposed to be called the Right to Information Act, 2004) to the Government for legislation .

At its third meeting here chaired by the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, the council finalised its views on the employment guarantee programme and the right to information act. Nine members of the council attended Saturday's meeting. Discussions also took place on issues pertaining to health. A scheme for health insurance for poor families (included in the national Common Minimum Programme) was examined. It was agreed that the council would formulate an agenda for action for consideration. According to an official statement, some of the issues to be discussed in the coming weeks include the education sector, the mid-day meal scheme, the `Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan', the ICDS programme, governance, tribal welfare and development and the status of incomplete irrigation projects are some of the issues to be discussed in the coming weeks. NAC also decided consult experts and practitioners in their respective fields over these issues. The next meeting of the council is on August 28 when the education and irrigation issues will be taken up.