MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) and (b): The National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by a Chairperson was
constituted on 31st May, 2004 to provide inputs for the formulation of policy by
the Government and provide support to the Government in monitoring the progress
of implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).
The Present Membership of the Council is as follows:-
(i) Dr. V. Krishnamurthy
(ii) Shri Jairam Ramesh
(iii) Prof. C. H. Hanumantha Rao
(iv) Dr. D. Swaminadhan
(v) Dr. N. C. Saxena
(vi) Dr. Madhav Chavan
(vii) Dr. A. K. Shiva Kumar
(viii) Prof. Mrinal Miri
(ix) Ms. Sehba Hussain
(c) : The information in respect of allotment of funds and the expenditure incurred
for the Office of the NAC is shown below:-
Financial Budget Estimates Expenditure incurred
Year (Rs. in crores) (Rs. in crores)
2004-05 1.56 0.85
2005-06 1.34 0.68
2006-07 1.41 0.50
(d) and (e): The discussions in the NAC have covered a range of subjects, including the
Right to Information, the National Rural employment Guarantee Programme, the
Universalization of Elementary Education, the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme, the Integrated
Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Watershed and Wasteland Development Programmes,
Modernization of Revenue Administration, Revitalization of Indian Agriculture, Integrated
Energy Policy and Issues relating, amongst others, to Tribal Development, Equality of
Women, Judicial Reforms, Workers in the Unorganized Sector, Governance, Resettlement and
Rehabilitation and the Health Sector. Between April 2006 – April 2007, the discussions
held have addressed, inter alia, the ICDS, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the MDM, the
National Rural Health Mission, the Comprehensive Modernization of Land Records, the National
River Conservation Programme including the Ganga Action Plan, the Pradhan Mantri Gram
Sadak Yojana, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the use of Geo Textiles,
Poverty Alleviation Programmes, Vocational Education and Rural Electrification.
Considering the need to continually review the progress of the NCMP and the importance of
ensuring timely follow-up action, the term of the NAC has been renewed by the Government
from time to time. The Right to Information Act came into force in June 2005 and the
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in September 2005. The Protection of Women from
Domestic Violence Act and the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act to give women equal rights
in inheritance of property, including agricultural land, also came into force in September
2005.
A National Rural Health Mission was launched in April 2005 and a dedicated, non-lapsable
fund called the “Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh†constituted in November 2005 for utilization,
exclusively, for the SSA and the MDM Scheme. In the first phase of expansion of the ICDS,
orders sanctioning an additional 466 Projects and 1.88 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) were
issued in the financial year, 2005-06. In the second phase of expansion, 173 additional
Projects, 1.07 lakh AWCs and 25,961 mini-AWCs are being covered. The MDM Scheme was revised
in June 2006 and the nutritional content enhanced to 450 calories and 12 grams of protein.
All States and Union Territories are implementing the Programme.
