Biggies eye social sector pie

Buoyed by the conviction that its welfare programmes scripted its victory in 2009, the Congress is likely to give top billing to social-sector ministries in its second term in government.

The shift in political focus could see some high-profile politicians bidding for ministries like human resources development, rural development, and health, which have traditionally been lower in the pecking order.

Those who have shown an interest in picking up one of these ministries include high-flyers like Kapil Sibal and Kamal Nath. As senior members of the party, both are tipped to get important portfolios in the next cabinet. But with the word “important” being redefined in the new dispensation, they may opt for unconventional posts in keeping with the changing mood in the party.

Both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi attach great importance to the social sector and intend to actively promote it as an area of special focus over the next five years. Rahul was a member of the standing committee of the HRD ministry in the 14th Lok Sabha and used to make it a point to attend its meetings.

The current thinking in the Congress indicates that it intends to consolidate and take forward the schemes of UPA1 and spread the welfare net wider in UPA2 through innovative programmes and structural reforms in areas like health, education, and housing. It will need go-getter ministers with a record of delivery to push the schemes through.

One such scheme that the party think-tank is working on is a mass rural housing project, like the famous Shelter for All programmes of some South American countries. This envisages large-scale construction of solar-energised, low-cost housing for the rural poor.

Fiscal and other reforms are likely to take a back seat in view of the changed global economic environment. Kamal Nath told a TV channel recently, “We have done enough reforms.”