Bridging gap between NGOs,policymakers

“We work closely with the MPs and conduct researches based on the tracking we do. We not only keep an extensive account of the MPs performances,but also work towards ensuring transparency and participation in the legislature. This initiative aims at involving NGOs in the process as the valuable work that they conduct at grass-root level does not help in bringing about policy-level changes just because they do not know how to approach an MP or an MLA,who are the policy makers. Through this workshop we train the NGOs the various approaches and areas where the public representatives can be tapped,” said Tonusree Basu of Delhi-based PRS Legislative Research,which along with CSO Partners,an organisation working towards creating constitutional awareness amongst masses,had organised the workshop.

It threw crucial light on various aspects related with the functioning of the Parliament like the sessions in the House,the roles and responsibilities of MPs,parliamentary standing committees,etc. which the NGOs can target in order to reach their representatives. “Advocacy is an important aspect while working as an NGO. As a democratic nation,people are our strength and while working for the people,we need to know the ways to approach the representatives. For instance,the Raigarh SEZ was called of because the local leadership was compelled to oppose the same by local residents. The state SEZ policy on the other hand was approved as there was none to challenge the same. This just means that people’s voice has to reach the representatives and the NGOs should play a crucial role in doing so for which knowledge of parliamentary functioning is important,” said Amit Narkar of National Centre for Advocacy Services (NCAS),an NGO working for advocacy who participated in the workshop.

Usha Pillai of Catalyst for Social Action,an NGO working for orphans,said,“Major policy-level reforms are needed in our sector. For instance,the agencies in villages have children and no adopters,whereas in cities there are adopters and no children. Not only that,adoption licenses is another concern. Last year,we submitted a petition to the Prime Minister… Engaging with the parliamentarians is an irreplaceable part of the NGOs area of work.” The workshop will now be conducted at Hyderabad,Kolkata and Bangaluru in the days to come.