The first meeting of the working group to formulate a National Action Plan for Human Rights was held in the Commission in New Delhi on 28th February 2006. The meeting was chaired by Shri Nirmal Singh, Secretary General, NHRC and attended by Shri B.A Coutinho, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Amanjeet Singh, Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri S.K. Sharma, Director, Ministry of Human Resources, Shri Kirti Kumar, Ministry of Home Affairs and Shri Shankar Sen from the Institute of Social Sciences.
The meeting deliberated on the need for a National Action Plan, the issues that would be taken up and the time frame for its drafting. It was suggested that the plan should envisage an implementation strategy with clear achievable targets, taking into account the ground realities so that it becomes practical. Equal emphasis on economic, social and cultural rights along with civil and political rights was highlighted. The objective of drawing up a National Action Plan on Human Rights is to strengthen the nation's capacity of promoting Human Rights and to ensure that national legislation is in conformity with International Standards on issues of Human Rights.