The
concept of public policy generates from the paucity of resources and
the identity concern. It is generally made for the development of the
under developed. It is made by the state for the ‘welfare of citizens’.
It comprises of political decisions and implementation for
accomplishment of goals and welfare of the society. The objectives of
these policies narrate about the plans and actions such as, what will be
the achievement, who will be benefitted by the policy and what are the
steps that needs to be taken for their accomplishment.
According
to Dye, “Public Policy is whatever government chooses to do or not to
do”. Public policy acts as the government action whereas it is also
defined as consequences of the actions and decisions of the government.
It is the study of government decisions and actions designed to deal
with a matter of public concern. It comprises a plan of action or
program and a statement of objective, in other words, a map and a
destination. (Cochran and Malone, 2007). Thus, it can be understood that
public policy is an act or action of the government for the growth,
empowerment and social justice.
Public
policy is also the outcome of the will of the citizens and governmental
decisions. This also helps to locate what is good and best for the
general welfare of the society. Addressing the issue of inequality,
caste, gender, equity, education, employment and vice versa,
government
must perform the social justice to all and not to a few sections of the
society. And that one section cannot become the free rider of the
society, to control these free riders and to stop exploitation of the
poor and for the equal welfare of the society more and more public
policies are made so that the society may become more equitable and
just.
The
adoption and implementation of public policies are helpful in making
the country rise from its social and development issues.It creates a
link between the government and its citizens and also breeds a relation
of mutual accountability and responsibility.The process of Public Policy
making includes a wide variety of features like problem that needs to
be addressed, design of the policy, financial aspects and tools for the
policy needed for the achievement of its goal, keeping in mind the
general and social interest of the citizens.
These
policies and programes must bring capabilities so that citizen
benefitted with these may lead a good life. The current need is a new
thinking in policy making and implementation including the cross edge
and cross traditional approach to the dynamics of public policy.
Learning public policy helps to understand about the challenges that the
country faces. It helps to disseminate the old welfare policies and
programmes, and bring new policies and programmes by understanding the
changing problems and issues of the citizens, their economy,
environment, national and international issues etc. leading to a
progressive move. Some of the Public Policies of the Central Government
like MNREGA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, National Drug Policies, National
Water Policies, Higher Education Policies, Reservation Policies,
National Mineral Policies, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana etc. are
the examples of human develpment policies.
Ethics and Public Policy:
Knowledge
of ethics helps policy makers to understand and follow what to do and
what not to do in formulating public policies and later at
implementation stages. It is basically the moral justification of what
to follow and what not to follow for the betterment of the society.
Career in Public Policy & its Scope:
Public
Policy was introduced late in academia especially in country like
India. With a degree or diploma in Public Policy one is prepared to
enter in numerous areas in government and in private organisations and
many other domains where the main purpose of the government is to get
innovative and advanced ideas and to make them fruitful for the
development of the country and by and large to its people.
Public
Policy helps comprehend the challenges faced by the state and its
people. Studying and making career in public policy opens up many
options for scholars in the areas such as, research and development,
teaching, career in think tanks and independent research centres,
Non-governmental organization etc. The scope of the public policy is not
limited to the above, it is further expanding.
Research and Development:
Many
national and international organisations are involved in research and
development activities, thus advanced research in public policy is an
open option for making career in public policy. Many independent
research centres are conducting research activities and offer a
promising career.
Teaching:
Ph.D.
is the foremost requirement to get into teaching. ‘Public Policy’ is
one of the sought after course in Indian varsities. Universities and
institutes train students into it and some provide them placements. They
may also get appointed as lecturers and professors in various public
and private universities. Now it is also being adopted by the management
institutes in India including the premier one like IIM’s, ISB etc.
In Government Sector:
There
are number of activities which involve Public Policy with Public
Administration, Political Science, Administration, Law, Management,
International Relations, Geography, Economics, Science, Maths,
Statistics, Environment, Social Sciences and other related subjects.
There are many more upcoming opportunities in state and central
government which are involved in urban planning and rural planning and
require a public policy scientist in the above areas.
Management and Public Policy:
It
helps the managers to make policies in organisation so that the
capacity building and the capability of the employees enhances, and it
also makes them understand how to manage and cope with the financial and
human resource polices in their organisations. It also trains them to
become resilient during the time of stress and to provide better ideas
to relieve from the pressure.
Public Administration and Public Policy:
It
empowers the public administrators to understand public policies in a
much more thoughtful manner. This also helps in making public policies
in a more humane way. Public administrators are the people who have
knowledge of both people and policies; they understand political
pressure as well as the pressure of civil society, political parties,
media and other peer groups. With the understanding of public policy,
the public administrators will be able to execute their duties in more
precise manner in their regular routine towards the government and the
people.
Others:
There
are many other private and government organizations, Civil Society and
Public Policy institutes which are involved in public policy research
and development activities. It widely opens career as a trained policy
maker in administration, management, government as well as in various
research and development organisations. A degree or diploma programme in
Public policy will equip one to work in the field of education,
healthcare, administration, management, corporate and into the
institutions of national and international repute. There are many
universities in India which offer certificate, diploma, degree in Public
Policy and PhD as full time programme.Some of them are listed below:
Educational Institutes:
Few
educational institutions which are involved in Public Policy research
are -Indian Institute of Management Bangalore; Indian Institute of
Management Kashipur; Jawaharlal Nehru University; Jamia Millia Islamia;
Aligarh Muslim University; University of Lucknow; Indian Institute of
Public Administration; Institute of Public Policy- MDI Gurgaon Indira
Gandhi National Open University; Centre for Public Policy Research;
Public Policy Research Institute; Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs;
Indian School of Business; Jindal School of Government and Public
Policy, etc. (The list is indicative only.)
(The
author is associated with the Centre of Excellence in Public Policy and
Goverment, Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur, Uttarakhand, e-
mail rahsik.jnu@gmail.com)
Article Courtesy:
http://employmentnews.gov.in/NewEmp/MoreContentNew.aspx?n=InDepthJobs&k=40
