12th Plan: NDC meeting today,NAC discusses minority recommendations

A press communique issued after the NAC meeting said the draft recommendations were prepared “with particular reference to the 12th Plan”,and the NAC decided to place these recommendations in public domain for comments before “they are finalised”.

In the backdrop of the raging debate over the civil society’s insistence on enacting a particular law,noted activist Aruna Roy updated the NAC on the issues related to pre-legislative consultation. “It was suggested that there should be a systematic process of pre-legislative consultation leading up to the framing up of any law. This should ensure much wider consultation of civil society and stakeholders concerned in framing laws,” said Mander.

“Anna Hazare’s demands are not for any kind of institutionalised system for pre-legislative consultation but for deciding a particular law. This is problematic. Our suggestion is for an institutionalised mechanism for pre-legislative consultation for any law in future.”

The NAC was apprised of the recommendations of the working group on abolition of child labour wherein a complete ban on child labour was suggested.

Besides,Mander made a presentation on reforms in the Rajiv Awas Yojana.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation briefed the NAC on the progress made on its earlier recommendation,asking the government to come out with Central legislation on street vendors based on the national policy on street vendors framed by it.

The NAC is slated to meet again on November 29.