NAC members also question govt on FDI

Members of Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) may also have reservations over the government's move to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

Though the council is scheduled to have a brief meeting on Tuesday to discuss India's Human Development Report and the state of the homeless, it could also take up the FDI issue with at least two members of the group voicing their differences with the proposed move.

Rights activist and member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Aruna Roy sees a greater problem with allowing FDI "without consultation" than just the merits of the case.

"We are talking about people's participation and pre-legislative consultations for Bills and extending them to policies. Now how can government go in and take decisions just off the cuff about livelihood of thousands of people? It is wrong and we intend talking about it though the meeting is scheduled to be brief," she said.

Another member of the council, Harsh Mander, says, "We are told that this FDI would give more jobs and increase employment. But even if that is the case, it's a complex one, as we need to examine if we really want to go in from self-employment to these people to finding jobs as employees of MNCs."

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