REVIEW OF LAWS, IMPLEMENTATION OF TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS I 49 and strategies are essential to formulate a plan. On the issue as to who should do the base line study, it isfelt that NHRC is the ideal agencyfor this purpose more so in view ofits mandate under Section 12(d). (g), (h), (i) and (j) ofthe Protection ofHumanRights Act. 1993'. 4.27 This reply from the Ministry of Home Affairs was considered by the Commission and it took the view that the responsibility for the preparation of the National Plan of Action rested squarely on the Government of each State that had attended the Workshop. However, since the Government of India had requested the Commission to take the lead, the Commission felt that this opportunity could be utilised to guide the Government in the preparation of the Plan of Action. 4.28 The Ministry of Home Affairs was subsequently requested to constitute a Committee comprising senior representatives of various ministries dealing with human rights issues, namely, the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Human Resource Development, Social Justice and Empowerment, Health and FamilyWelfare, Labour, Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Defence. It was suggested that the Joint Secretary of the Commission could be the Convenor of the Committee and that the Committee could meet at regular intervals and guide the Ministry of Home Affairs in evolving a National Action Plan. As a start, the Committee would seek information from the respective Ministries/Departments on what they proposed to do with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission also forwarded a National Action Plan prepared by the Government of Australia to the Ministry of Home Affairs, so as to enable it to see how another Government had approached this subject. As of the conclusion of the present reportingperiod, a reply from the Ministry of Home Affairs was awaited. The Commission urges the Ministry to complete its examination of this matter expeditiously so that work can commence on drafting a National Plan of Action. F] Freedom of Information Bill, 2000 4.29 The right to information is of great importance to good governance, the empowerment of people and, indeed, to the proper realisation of a range of other rights. Because of this, the Commission considered it essential to take up the prousions of the Freedom of Information Bill, 2000 for dose scrutiny. In doing so, the ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001