New Delhi, March 29: In a comeback of sorts, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chief Sonia Gandhi is set to return as the chief of the National Advisory Council, which folded on March 31, 2008, two years after Gandhi quit as its chairperson.
Gandhi will enjoy the rank of Cabinet Minister and her appointment has been made with immediate effect, an official spokesman said.
Her tenure would be co-terminus with that of the NAC.
Gandhi would nominate other members of the Council and their tenure would be for one year from the date of their appointment and it could be extended. They will draw salary and allowances determined by the central government.
Under the special provisions, an MP being appointed as a member of the NAC, he or she cannot draw any perk, allowance or remuneration from the Council, a press release from the Union Cabinet read.
Gandhi quit the NAC on March 23, 2006 after the opposition alleged she had violated the office of profit principle under which only one office of profit can be held at a time.
She also quit her Lok Sabha seat and was re-elected her Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh on May 15 the same year.
The NAC was created on 4 June 2004 during the first tenure of the UPA government. It was the brainchild of Gandhi and PM Manmohan Singh. It tracked employment guarantee schemes and Right to Information Act besides other social sector legislations.
The UPA government has ambitious welfare schemes on its radar in its second term, including the Food Security Act and expanding the scope of the employment guarantee scheme. It also intends to get a bill against communal violence passed in Parliament.
The new NAC will not only formulate policy for new programme but will oversee the execution of the existing flagship schemes.
The term of the members of the Council will be for a period of one year with effect from the date of their appointment which may be extended.
-Agencies