An expert committee, headed by sociologist Prof D Sundaram, appointed by the government in April this year to evolve guidelines, has submitted its recommendations. The government is likely to initiate measures once the election process is over. If the proposal materialises without delay, Tamil Nadu will be the first state to have such a department.

The committee, in its report, has identified the goal of the proposed department as the ``transition of the society from an ascriptive dimension to an achievement dimension.'' That is, decision making on social issues of a community should be through a public movement and not come down from a village headman or through a government order.

While the structure of the department is to be decided by the government,the committee has suggested the constitution of an autonomous Social Reforms Commission, which interacts with the minister concerned through a Social Reforms Advisory Council. A number of laws would have to be passed to involve non-governmental organisations and social movements in issues such as land reforms and inter-caste marriages, the committee felt.

Communal harmony will be on top of the agenda for the proposed body. For this, the panel has recommended formation of social action groups, not just peace committees, to evolve methods to deal with volatile situations.