Eyebrows are raised at the timing of its revival. The NAC was wound up in 2006 after the office of profit controversy, which resulted in Sonia Gandhi resigning her position as the NAC chairperson as well as her Rae Bareili seat. She came back winning her seat with a larger majority. Subsequently, in 2006, the government came to Parliament with a bill to exempt 56 posts including that of the chairperson of the NAC from office of profit which was passed amidst walk out by the BJP. Many assumed that it was a closed chapter. This belief was strengthened by the fact that when the UPA 11 began, there was no hint of the NAC although the bungalow number 2 on Motilal Nehru Marg was not vacated.

A think tank like NAC is not only welcome but also necessary. It not only functioned as a super policy maker but also pushed through some important legislations like the NAREGA and the Right to Information Act. With the full backing of Mrs. Gandhi, the NAC members did not hesitate to grill the government officials on their policy. Although the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister were not always in agreement with the NAC recommendations which involved huge expenditure, they ultimately fell in line. Moreover, there are not too many think tanks in the country, which could independently propose path-breaking policies.

The timing of its revival is quite significant. Right now the Congress is in the midst of an attack over the spiralling price rise and high inflation. Even Congressmen are concerned about it.

First of all, the appointment of Sonia Gandhi as the NAC chairperson will ensure her an institutional platform to promote the UPA policies and particularly the Congress promises on the social and economic reforms. With no coordination committee of the UPA and no left parties to function as a pressure group, the NAC role is important.

Second, the Congress is accused of moving away form pro-poor policies. The NAC, with its track record may be an answer because it had been effective with its NGO members. NREGA and the RTI act are the proof. Mrs. Gandhi's return to the NAC may signal a bonanza for the social sector and the poor.

Third, some see that the revival of the NAC is a signal that Sonia Gandhi wants to ensure her stamp on the government policies. After all, elections are due in Bihar later this year and in U.P next year. The party cannot be complacent about the electoral prospects although there is no danger of Lok Sabha polls for the next four years. As the new NAC chief with a cabinet rank, she will be in a position to interact with the government directly and not through remote control.

Also, measures like the crucial Food Security bill, which is one of the party's poll promises need to be addressed. Food security is more important than other measures and it will be a feather in the cap if a law is enacted in a country where seventy per cent of the population is poor. In fact, the new census beginning this year should be able to define the number of those living below the poverty line.

The draft food security bill is quite different from the one sent by Sonia Gandhi to the PM in June 2009. Insiders say that there are some differences on its provisions like reduction of food grains to the poor to 25 kg while the recommendation was for 35 kg. With the revival of the NAC, this bill may undergo some amendments just as it happened in the case of the NREGA and the RTI, now that the NAC is revived. Food security bill will be for UPA 2 what NREGA and the Right to Information Act were to the first UPA regime, as Sonia Gandhi wants this to be a showpiece. Obviously the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister are not too enthusiastic about spending another Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 crores on food security when the government is already battling to cut the subsidy and the rising fiscal deficit. Hence there is a clash between the government and the party. But if push comes to shove, it will be accomplished.

How will the new NAC function? Its new members will determine the NAC's effectiveness. It will become one of the four tiers with the policy emanating from it; it goes to the core group, the Cabinet and finally reaches Parliament. At the same time, the NAC cannot ignore the fiscal problems being faced by the government, as it would not be prudent to spend more than it could. It should be within acceptable limits. The babus in the government too should not hold on to their ancient mindset and understand the aspirations of the people. A two-legged race should be the aim. (IPA Service)