Public Policy in India

Thomas Dye (2004) sets out the following stages in his analysis of the policy process :

• Problem Identification : The identification of policy problems through demands for government action.
• Agenda Setting : Focusing the attention of the mass media and public officials on specific public problems as a prelude to decision making.
• Policy Formulation : The development of policy proposals by interest groups, officers of the chief executive’s office, committees of the legislature, think tanks, etc.
• Policy Legitimation : The selection and enactment of policies through political actions by the executive, the legislature, and the courts.
• Policy Implementation : The implementation of policies through organised bureaucracies, public expenditures, and the activities of executive agencies.
• Policy Evaluation: The evaluation of policies by government agencies themselves, outside consultants, the press, and the public.

Significance of Public Policy

• Public policies are key instruments in the hands of the government to realise public ends .
• Redistribution of Economic growth : For example, giving grants in aid and special category status to the underdeveloped states.
• Promoting inclusive growth through financial inclusion and social inclusion.
  • Example : JAM trinity.
  • Example - MGNREGA , Ayushman Bharat Abhiyan, Zamindari reforms, national food security act-2013.

  Issues with the policies in India

  In India, when policies are made and implemented without the desired impact, the blame is often placed at the implementation end.

  
  

  • Conceived in nature: Policies essentially flow from problem discovery, followed by problem definition.
    • Hence policies need to be designed, they cannot be conceived.
    • For example, Operation Blackboard began with a rudimentary problem diagnosis. If teachers are missing, children don't go to school.
    • Evaluation should have led to problem redefinition and possibly changes in policy.
    • For example, in Beti bachao Beti Padhao scheme , the component-wise distribution of expenditure for 2017-18 and the planned expenditure profile for 2018-19 and 2019-20 show that media campaigns at the national level account for 43% of expenditure, with 4% going to district campaigns.
    • MGNREGA was initially limited to 200 drought-prone districts , and the 100-day employment guarantee would have provided vital input.
    • But either due to activist pressure or political attraction, it was expanded to all 600 districts quickly with unsatisfactory results, pushing reasonable and viable policy goals away.
    • As per MGNREGA requirements, the majority of states have not paid wages within 15 days. Workers also don't get paid for late wages.
    • It creates problem of red tapism, corruption and operation inefficiencies .

    Measures needed to be taken

    For Better policy formulation

    • Decentralization of policy making process and separating policy-making from implementation
    • Improving the flow of information and feedback mechanism to guide policy making as demand driven.
    • Ensure participation of all stakeholders and civil society in policy making to reflect the inclusiveness and comprehensiveness in Policy
    • Strengthen the environment for Policy monitoring and assessment.
    • Collect real time empirical data
    • Building linkages among government agencies and academic institutions : inherent limitations of competence, lack of time and attention, while dealing with the sheer magnitude of bureaucratic procedures making executive and legislature confined their thinking.

    For better Implementation:

    • Developing a robust delivery mechanism that encourages active participation of individuals at the grassroots level.
    • Promoting convergence of schemes .
    • Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among the public about details of various schemes enabling them to access benefits effectively.
    • Incorporating provisions for social auditing to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of policies and programs.
    • Establishing a strong institutional framework .

    Clearly, if public arguments about enhancing service delivery remain misinformed about implementation issues, reforms may fail and potentially do more harm. Better public services are improbable without fundamental field administration reform based on profound awareness of the difficulties.