The Hindu : Bhabra rehabilitated, heads economics panel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 26, 2004

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Other States - Rajasthan

Bhabra rehabilitated, heads economics panel

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, FEB. 25. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government in Rajasthan has rehabilitated the senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Harishankar Bhabhra - who lost the previous two consecutive Assembly elections - by appointing him to the newly-established Economic Policy and Reforms Council.

The council has been set up to suggest measures to the State Government for bringing about changes in the economic policies in the light of reforms, globalisation and liberalisation at the national level.

The Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, will head the 20-member council, while Mr. Bhabhra will be its Vice-Chairman. The Government expects to get the benefit of Mr. Bhabhra's long experience in financial management, which may bring the State's economy back on rails.

The BJP has also sought to mollify Mr. Bhabhra by giving him the appointment even though he was one of the vociferous critics of the high command's decision to send Ms. Raje as the State unit president overriding the claim of several senior leaders. Mr. Bhabhra may be given the Cabinet Minister's status after he takes office.

Official sources said here today that the council would focus its attention on the areas such as long-term investments, development targets, poverty eradication programme, socio-economic infrastructure, small and medium scale industries, health, education, drinking water and sanitation.

In addition to the State Public Works Department, Education and Industries Ministers, there are 17 eminent persons selected from various fields as council members. They include M.S. Swaminathan, K. Kasturirangan, V.S. Vyas, Urjit Patel, Yogi Deveshwar, Rajendra Panwar, D.K. Bagchi, Naina Kidwai, C.K. Birla, Ajay Sriram, Suresh Nevatia, Lalit Modi, Vikram Mehta, Ravi Parthasarthi, Deepak Parekh, R.K. Pachori and Swati Piramal.

The Chief Secretary will be the member secretary, while the Principal Secretary, Finance, and Principal Secretary, Industries, will be special invitees.

According to the sources, the council will also look for alternate avenues for effective implementation of public services, initiate steps for using the resources in different sectors of economy and identify the areas for participation of public and private sectors.

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Bhabra rehabilitated, heads economics panel