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The thirteenth meeting of the National Advisory Council was chaired by Smt. Sonia Gandhi here today and was attended by eight members.
The discussions commenced with the consideration of the subject of Complete Legal Equality for women in all spheres, including equal rights of ownership of property and agricultural land, which is an important component of the National Common Minimum Programme. A presentation was made on inheritance rights. It was agreed that comprehensive recommendations suggesting legal and legislative action on gender – related issues, along with administrative steps in respect of allotment of land and for programmes like the Indira Awas Yojana may be forwarded to the Government. It was recalled that action is already in hand on measures like the “Protection from Domestic Violence Bill” on which also the Council’s views would be communicated to the Government.
The Council took note of a draft of the “ Unorganized Sector Workers Social Security Bill.” covering all unorganized labour. It was felt that this would be a useful basis for further consultation before being forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for placing the same on their web-site.
Discussions took place on Policy and Governance issues in land Management which cover the establishment of land titles, tenancy reforms and modernization of the revenue administration. The current issues relating to land reforms and the need to urgently improve, update and fully computerise the maintenance of land records as also facilitate ready access were reviewed. It was agreed that a Sub Group of the NAC members would quickly formulate a set of recommendations designed to achieve implementation in a mission mode.
The NAC reviewed the status of the Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh and the ICDS scheme with the view to ensuring time-bound action on these programmes. A sub group of the NAC will separately recommend necessary streamlining of the procedures.
The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for June 4, 2005.
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