The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has been expanded to include Union Minister for Urban Development Kamal Nath and Union Minister of State with independent charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Administration K.V. Thomas.
According to highly place sources, Mr. Nath will be a full-time member of the panel, while Mr. Thomas will be a special invitee.
The sources said Mr. Nath was inducted into the panel in view of the increasing importance being given by the Centre for issues relating to urban development.
Mr. Thomas has been included as a special invitee, particularly in the context of the ongoing effort for a Food Security Bill. The legislation has been hanging fire following differences between the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and an expert committee headed by C. Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council.
The NAC has suggested providing legal entitlement of subsidised foodgrains to 75 per cent of the population, including both “priority” (Below Poverty Line) and “general” (Above Poverty Line) household categories, whereas the Rangarajan Committee favoured a legal entitlement to “priority” households only taking into account the current production and procurement figures.
As a special invitee, Mr. Thomas would attend meetings of the CCEA as and when issues relating to his Ministry came up for discussion, the sources said.
