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Indian Economic Policy

Notes legislation. Pressure groups also provide a means of participation in local politics between elections.
A pressure groups can use a variety of different methods to influence law.
Help in Efficient Programme Implementation : It may be noted that voluntary agencies help in the
programme implementation, collaboration and co-ordination with other activities. Moreover, they
can be helpful in development through programme implementation in the following ways :
1. They can conduct reviews and assessment of existing development programmes.
2. They can develop innovative programmes.
3. They can provide assistance to develop and/or strengthen local NGO capabilities and activities.
4. Voluntary agencies can ensure that their existing programmes and new initiatives promote full
participation by individuals and communities in the planning, implementation and control of
the programmes of the area.
5. They can expand their training efforts to respond to the need of primary health Care programmes.
6. They can extend their efforts to develop locally sustainable and appropriate health technologies.
7. Voluntary agencies can help in recognising the essential roles of women in health promotion.
8. They can extend their capacity to work with poor, disadvantaged and remote populations.
9. Voluntary agencies can help in the creation of new and effective methods of health education.
These agencies are increasingly playing the catalysistic role in getting the public policies implemented.
In the above discussion, the term ‘pressure groups “and various forms of organisations have been
used interchangeably. It may be noted there are two types of pressure groups or organisations :
Membership Based Organisations (MBOs) and the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) as
discussed below :
Membership Based Organisations (MBOs) : Membership-Based Organisations (MBO) are
associations and societies that focus on the common interests of their members. Organisations provide
tools and solutions to members to increase their productivity and ensure better service. With the use
of the latest internet technology, Milestone Consultants provides advanced web communication
channels to professional associations, societies, trade unions and clubs to collaborate and share
information. Associations can inform and update their members about news and events through
emails, newsletters, blogs, discussion forums, wiki’s, and various community sites.
Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) : A non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) is a legally
constituted organisation created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any
Government. The term is usually used by Governments to refer to entities that have no Government
status. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by Governments, the NGO maintains
its non-Governmental status by excluding Government representatives from membership in the
organisation. The term is usually applied only to organisations that pursue some wider social aim
that has political aspects, but that are not overtly political organisations such as political parties.
Unlike the term “inter-governmental organisation”, the term “non-governmental organisation” has
no generally agreed legal definition. In many jurisdictions, these types of organisation are called
“civil society organisations” or referred to by other names.
Here, it may be noted that NGOs cannot be substitutes for people’s organisations because :
1. They are not uniformly distributed all over the country’s area.
2. The success of an NGOs depends on the availability of service-minded people.
3. It is important to note that empowerment of people can come about only when they actually
run their own organisations.
Despite the above reasons, NGOs can contribute considerably in building the Membership Based
Organisations which in turn need a great deal of financial and moral support for capacity building. It
is observed that Membership Based Organisations in India are confined to a few legal forms. Of
these, the most prominent are the trade unions registered under the Trade Union Act (1926) and the
co-operatives registered under various State Cooperative Acts. MBOs Networks are formed through
alliances between MBOs or federations of trade unions, co-operatives and savings and credit groups
and organisations.

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