Page 383 - DECO502_INDIAN_ECONOMIC_POLICY_ENGLISH

Unit 30: Implementation of Economic Policies: Role of Panchayats and Pressure Groups

Case Studies : MBOs - Here is a case study of Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) which a Notes
union of self-employed women. Established in 1972, this MBO pressurises the bureaucracy at all
levels to get the prorammes and schemes (launched by the Central and State Governments)
implemented as well as it builds pressure for making policies for the welfare of the weaker sections
of self-employed women. To combat injustice at different levels, the strategies adopted are different
and range from direct action to dealing with the Government departments through complaints and
courts as well as to organising campaigns, workshops, studies and advocacy to influence policy
changes. Moreover, SEWA is also actively involved in enhancing the capacities of its members by
provision of credit through the SEWA Bank. It provides assistance in housing, sanitation, education
and marketing facilities for manufactured products, etc.
NGOs - Society for Technology and Development (STD) takes up economic activity through collective
organisation of marginalised sections. In the beginning, it acted as a field station of a Delhi based
NGO. In 1990, it was registered as a separate society in 1990. It has set up a production unit for
tanning of leather and has a network of traditional leather artisans (mainly flayers) of the area, buying
the raw hides from them and processing them at its unit.
Many improvements are needed in voluntary organisations to make them effective for implementation
of socio-economic programmes of the country. For example, they need to develop a reasonable
personnel policy to attract qualified and stable personnel to implement their programmes. Apart
from this, they must work in the area of social action and thereby facilitate social change. There is an
urgent need to expand their work in rural areas.
Thus, the role of voluntary organisations vis-a-vis the support of Government for social welfare and
development must be defined clearly. Their performance can be enhance through the following:
(i) The policy towards voluntary organisations indicating the relative role of the Government and
the voluntary sector, entitlement to funds, etc. should be clear.
(ii) In terms of assets, financial soundness, service conditions to staff, quality of service etc., there is
an urgent need to make a serious review of the working of voluntary organisations.
(iii) It may be noted that the Directorates of Social Welfare should equip themselves with facts and
figures regarding voluntary organisations, their specialised areas of work, problems faced by
them in their day-to-day functioning etc. during any action.
(iv) Certain rules and procedures of recruitment, salary scales and working/service conditions
should be followed so that voluntary organisations would get properly qualified persons to
man their programmes and schemes.
(v) Moreover, grants must not be released as a matter of routine.
Self-Assessment
1. Choose the correct options:
(i) What is the system of governance in the Panchayat Raj set up
(a) Single tier system of local self government at the village level
(b) Two tier system of local self government at the village and block level
(c) Three tier structure of local self government at village, block and district level
(ii) Which of the following states has no Panchayat Raj institution
Choose one:
(a) Assam
(b) Nagaland
(c) Tripura
(d) Kerala
(iii) Which of the following regarding the Panchayat Raj are correct
(a) The elections to the panchayats will be held by the election commission
(b) There are mandatory reservations for women and weaker sections

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