Public Policy Public Policy & &

Social ChangeSocial Change

Parth J ShahParth J Shah

Centre for Civil SocietyCentre for Civil Society

parth@ccs.inparth@ccs.in

What is public policy?What is public policy?

Who makes policy?Who makes policy? Who influences policy?Who influences policy? Who are affected by policy?Who are affected by policy?

Financing of FilmsFinancing of Films

Mahesh Bhatt meeting Dawood Ibrahim Mahesh Bhatt meeting Dawood Ibrahim for a loan to finance his new filmfor a loan to finance his new film

Why?

School/College School/College AdmissionsAdmissions

Long queues Long queues Donations/ Donations/

capitation feescapitation fees Interview of Interview of

parents and parents and childrenchildren

Why?Why?

Does not own the Does not own the rickshaw he pliesrickshaw he plies

Pays very high rent, Pays very high rent, Rs 25 a day Rs 25 a day

Cannot expand the Cannot expand the busineessbusineess

Cannot increase his Cannot increase his incomeincome

Why??Why??

Cycle Rickshaw PullersCycle Rickshaw Pullers

Street HawkersStreet Hawkers

For 15 years sitting For 15 years sitting in the same place in the same place with about the with about the same amount of same amount of goods goods (investment).(investment).

Why??Why??

Addressing Social Addressing Social ProblemsProblems

Direct ActionDirect Action

Policy ActionPolicy Action

Fish, Fish, Fish…Fish, Fish, Fish…

Give fishGive fish Teach fishingTeach fishing Keep fishing as a viable livelihoodKeep fishing as a viable livelihood

Choose to be a fishermanChoose to be a fisherman Training Institutes giving Diploma in Training Institutes giving Diploma in

FishingFishing

Why Policy Action is Why Policy Action is BetterBetter

Direct ActionDirect Action Immediate reliefImmediate relief Specific area/ Specific area/

peoplepeople Impact = EffortsImpact = Efforts Need for Need for

continuous continuous mobilisation mobilisation

Policy ActionPolicy Action Sustained reliefSustained relief All peopleAll people Small change = Small change =

large impactlarge impact Permanent Permanent

solutionsolution

Why Policy Action is Why Policy Action is BetterBetter

Direct ActionDirect Action Only activists can Only activists can

engageengage Need information Need information

about each new about each new occurrence of the occurrence of the problemproblem

Old problems Old problems persist; less time persist; less time for new onesfor new ones

Policy ActionPolicy Action All people can All people can

participateparticipate Internalised Internalised

correctional correctional feedbackfeedback

Time, energy and Time, energy and motivation left for motivation left for new problemsnew problems

Enduring ImpactEnduring ImpactIm

pact

Spa

ceIm

pact

Spa

ce

Impact SpeedImpact SpeedFast SlowPersonsPersons

SystemSystem

Enduring Leverage

Keep Fishing Viable

Teach Fishing

Give Fish

cc Anupam Saraph

Want Sustainable Want Sustainable Social Change Social Change

Think Public Policy !Think Public Policy !

Think AboutThink About

– One public policy that you think has worked and why

– One public policy that you think has not worked and why

– One area in which a policy is needed but government does not have one

– One are in which government has a policy but it is not necessary

Problem, Policy & Problem, Policy & ChangeChange

Problem:What Policy?

Is this aRight Policy?

Problem-Policy MatchProblem-Policy Match

• Problem – Precise identification– Causes (qualitative and quantitative

analysis)– Alternative solutions – Costs & benefits– Finances and implementation– Success benchmarks– Regular, independent evaluation

Is this a good policy?Is this a good policy?

• Policy– What is the problem? Is it a genuine problem?

NO NEED OF POLICY!– Who should act? State, markets, charities– Limit freedom?– Reduce choice and competition?– Create monopoly? Entry or exit barriers? – Unintended consequences?– Implementation: Information and incentives

Good Policy?Good Policy?

– Who’s for it? Who’s against it? Follow the money!

– Winners and Losers?– Effect on marginalised groups?– Effect on all groups in the society? – Externalities or third-party effects?– Short, medium, and long term effects?

Water and FarmersWater and Farmers

Road Roko Andolan to stop agriculture Road Roko Andolan to stop agriculture water diverted to the citywater diverted to the city

Why??

Communal RiotsCommunal Riots

Destruction of livesDestruction of lives Destruction of Destruction of

property (looting, property (looting, burning shops, burning shops, houses)houses)

People’s People’s Representatives?Representatives?

Criminal elected to Criminal elected to assembly and assembly and parliamentparliament

Tribals Surviving?Tribals Surviving?

Tribals shot at a Tribals shot at a protest against protest against acquisition of land acquisition of land in their areain their area

Elephants let loose Elephants let loose on ‘encroached’ on ‘encroached’ tribal dwellings in tribal dwellings in forestsforests