With ministries not sticking to deadlines on keeping promises made in the UPA’s National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed his Cabinet colleagues to attend a meeting at 7, Race Course Road on November 1 where the status of the work done by each ministry will be reviewed. A thick 76-page document circulated today is a report card on each ministry, detailing the tasks assigned and the progress shown: • Ministry of Agriculture NCMP promise: Farmers will be given greater say in the organisations that supply inputs to them Status: The Ministry had proposed to nominate one representative each of the farmers on Board of Directors of National Seeds Corporation and State Farm Corporation of India. Since then, no progress reported The Ministry was asked to constitute an advisory group to advise ministry on proactive thinking in agriculture including issues like seed policy, fertiliser policy. Progress was sought by October 15. Not delivered. Note by National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi on constitutional amendments to improve functioning of cooperatives was sent to ministry by PM who also sought consultations to be completed by October 31. Time frame indicated by PM for completing consultations has already been exceeded. this may be expedited. • Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers NCMP promise: Government will take steps to ensure availability of life-saving drugs at reasonable prices, special attention will be paid to poorer sections in the matter of healthcare, feasibility of reviving public sector units set up for manufacture of critical bulk drugs will be examined Status: Committee constituted on August 18 with members from ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Law and Justice, was expected to submit report in two months. Not delivered. • Ministry of Home Affairs NCMP promise: The UPA government is determined to tackle terrorism, militancy and insurgency in North East as a matter of urgent priority. All North Eastern states will be given special assistance to upgrade and expand infrastructure. Ministry was asked in September to provide specific information regarding time frame as well as need for intervention for financial provisions for higher level. Ministry was also asked to respond to the suggestions given by the then Leader of Opposition (Sonia Gandhi) to the then Deputy PM (L K Advani). Status: Response awaited. NCMP promised that the government will enact a model comprehensive law to deal with communal violence. Status: Ministry was supposed to finalise approach paper by September 15. Slippage from time frame. • Ministry of Finance NCMP promise: All subsidies will be targeted sharply at the poor and the truly needy like small and marginal farmers, farm labour and urban poor. A detailed roadmap will be unveiled in Parliament within 90 days. Status: Finance Ministry asked to present roadmap by Ocober-end, based on blueprint made by National Insitute of Public FInance and Policy (NIPFP). Awaited. NCMP promise: Special schemes to unearth black money and assets will be introduced. Status: Department of Revenue was asked in September to present Action Plan by October 15. Deadline missed. NCMP promise: Competition in the financial sector will be expanded. Public sector banks will be given full manegerial autonomy. Status: Draft policy paper submitted by the ministry involves larger policy issues. Needs deliberation in UPA-Left coordination committee. • Ministry of Commerce and Industries NCMP promise: The UPA will take all necessary steps to revive industrial growth and put it on robust footing through range of policies including deregulation, incentives to boost private investment. Status: Action Plan received by PMO, Cabinet secretary to follow up in Committee of Secretaries. NCMP promise: The Central government will take proactive measures to speed up industrialisation of the Eastern and North Eastern region. Status: Department of Industrial policy and Promotion had appointed Tata Economic Consultancy Services (TECS) to carry out evaluation of a North East Industrial Policy, report submitted. In September, Ministry asked to submit time frame for evaluation of TECS study and an action plan for North East. No response yet. • Ministry of Food and Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs NCMP promise: Government will strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS) particularly in the poorest and backward blocks of the country, involve women’s and ex-servicemen’s cooperatives, Antyodaya cards for all housholds at risk of hunger will be introduced. Status: Ministry still carrying on consultations. No concrete steps yet, 50 lakh additional families yet to be issued Antyodaya cards. • Ministry of Human Resource Development NCMP promise: The UPA government will amend Constitution to establish a Commission for Minority Educational Institutions that will provide direct affiliation for minority professional institutions to Central universities. Status: Issue discussed in August. Instead of Constitutional amendment, Central legislation planned. Draft ordinance awaited. NCMP promise: Legislation on domestic violence and against gender discrimination will be enacted. Status: Draft Protection from Domestic Violence Bill expected to be brought to Cabinet by October-end. Awaited. NCMP promise: Complete legal equality for women in all spheres, especially in equal rights of ownership of assets like houses and land. Status: 30 Acts need amendment, 6 to 7 of these relating to Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Women and Child Welfare need to be brought to the Cabinet by November-end. • Ministry of Public Grievance, Personnel and Pensions NCMP promise: The Right to Information Act will be made progressive, participative and meaningful. Status: Draft Bill was to be brought to Cabinet by October-end. Deadline missed.
