Rai Foundation
announces the launch of "Center for Public Policy".
The dual objective behind the Center for Public Policy is
to create a platform where the think tank of the society can
discussion issue of public importance and submit recommendation
backed by sufficient research. The other aim behind this initiative
by Rai Foundation is also to involve the Indian education
system into mainstream public debates to effectuate social
change in India.
Dr
Satinder Bajaj, Ex-Dirtector of Lady Irwin College, would
head the Centre for Public Policy. She says, "Shared
resources are a public domain. These need policies and subsequent
programmes, which are arrived at through public debate and
informed dialogue with persons who make policies and laws
and those who implement them. The practical aspects of policies
and programmes in India require fresh air so that mindsets
and hearts can undergo change to uphold the welfare of people
as its ultimate and central goal. Although there are many
well planned policies and programmes in operation, a continuous
review of their failures is required to keep them on the intended
track with reference to their goals and objectives."
While
the government machinery is focused on formulating policies
of urgency, issues of importance, which largely affect the
citizens of the nation, are usually missed out. Countries
abroad have educational institutes proactively taking up the
role to create forums where the think tank of the society
come together and discuss such issues and forward the recommendations
to the government
The
Center for Public Policy would work on a similar model. It
aims to take a fresh look to rethink contemporary issues of
public concern and create a transforming platform for experts,
academics, government, non-government, and informed public
to jointly debate without inhibition and prejudice matters
of concern to arrive at practical solutions. The focus of
the center is re-examining issues, mind sets, intentions of
policies and programmes to lead to holistic convergent inputs
to maximize benefits to people.
The
goals and objectives of the Center for Public Policy are:
1.
The Rai Foundation proposes to set up a Center for Public
Policy. This is a platform for informed dialogue and exchange
of views on contemporary concerns of public. Here uninhibited
debate and dialogue among academics, experts, government and
non government organisations, informed people would result
in rethinking and finding practical solutions for maximum
benefit of people.
2. The focus of the Center is re-examining contemporary issues,
mind-sets, and intentions of existing policies and programmes.
The discussion also endeavors to create a holistic view to
converge resources to maximize benefits to people.
3. The center is virtual platform with nodal experts as leaders,
on various specific issues. These leaders (identified on the
basis of their expertise) invite debate and dialogue on topics
through seminars, symposia or electronic communications. The
leaders then analyse and synthesize a document monograph (complete
with recommendations and references, acknowledgements), which
would be aired and sent to concerned quarters for consideration.
The full texts of individual participants would be retained
and provided on request.
4. Such public participation is expected to result in policies
that show concern for people and result in programmes that
run efficiently through elimination of past failures.
5. Some issues of current concern are Water Policy, Higher
Education in the Global Context, Disaster Management.
Through our well-researched and clearly argued policy analysis,
reports and publications, creating networks with government,
academia, the corporate and voluntary sectors and media, the
Center for Public Policy intends to contribute in maintaining
the momentum of progressive thought. Through this initiative,
Rai Foundation hopes to put forth a far-reaching and realistic
policy solutions to produce a fairer, more inclusive and environmentally
sustainable society.
