Pressure Groups & their role in
Democracy
1.
Definition
2.
Objectives
of pressure groups
3.
Types
of pressure groups
4.
Features
of Indian pressure groups
5.
Role
of pressure groups
6.
Criticism
against the pressure groups
7.
Differences
between Pressure group and a Political party
8.
Differences
of Indian pressure groups with that of west
9.
Conclusion
1.
Definition:
Pressure groups are the interest groups which work to
secure certain interest by influencing the public policy. They exert
pressure on the persons or body in power and influence Government decisions in
their favor. They are non-aligned with any political party and work as indirect
yet powerful group to influence the decision.
2. Objectives of
pressure groups:
The objectives
of the pressure groups are very limited. That is, every pressure group has one
special interest which it seeks to promote. For example, the Bank Unions fight
for their rights, whereas the Kishan Sabhas safeguard the interests of the
farmers; language groups want prominence given to their respective languages
etc. From the types and roles of the pressure groups, we can better understand
their objectives.
3.
Types of pressure groups in India:
The pressure
groups can be broadly classified as under.
ü Institutional pressure group-These
groups are formally organized which constitutes professionally employed
persons. They are part of government machinery and raise its protests with
constitutional means. For example Bureaucracy, army, central election committee
etc.
ü Anomic pressure group-These
are the group that have analogy with individual self-representation. They may
be constitutional or unconstitutional, perpetual infiltration such as riots,
demonstration etc. For example ULFA. Naxalites, Kashmir liberal front etc.
ü Associations pressure group-These
are organized specialized groups formed for interest articulation but
to pursue limited goal. For example Trade union, student association, teachers
association, Jewellers association etc.
ü Non-Associations pressure group-These
are the informal groups include caste group, language group, syndicate,
Ghanaian group etc.
The
major pressure groups present in India are as follows-
Ø
The business group-They
are independent of political parties and influence planning licensing
bodies and economic ministers. They help in budget formulation. For example
conference of Indian Industries (CII), Association chamber of commerce, Federation
of Indian chamber of Commerce & industry (FICCI).
Ø
Peasant's organization-It
gained power in 1960's. At Central level only one All India Kisan Congress
exists. On territorial basis All Kisan Kamgar, Akil Bhartiya Kisan Sangh. The
Bhartiya Kisan Party (BKP) in western U.P is most significant.
Ø
Student's organizations-
They pressurize the government on educational issues and various critical
issues. For example Student Federation of India [SFI] National Union of India, The Akhil Bhartiya
Vidhyarti parishad [ ABVP], Progressive Democratic Students Union [PDSU] etc. They fight for better facilities for
students in the colleges and hostels and fees reimbursement etc.
Ø
Community association-
They are in context to safeguard respective community/ religion. For example
Schedule caste federation, backward caste federation, Vishwa Hindu parishad,
RSS etc.
Ø
Linguistic groups-These
pressure groups promote certain languages. For example-Tamil Sangh, Hindi
Protection Parishad, Punjabi Sahit sabhas etc. The pressure exerted by the
southern states has led to due recognition to their languages and all four
south Indian languages, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam got “classical
language status” from the Government of India.
Ø
Tribal (regional groups)-There
are several tribal interest groups have been active in India. For example The
United Mizo Federal organization, The Tribal sang of Assam, The tribal League
of Assam, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, several NGOs etc.
Ø
Professional groups-Several
professional interest groups like India Bar Association, All India Medical
Council, College teachers etc.
Ø
Media as
pressure group: Mass media plays vital role in
reveling the various happening of politics and life of common people all
around. In countries such as India the mass media –the radio, TV, the cinema
and the press are very powerful means of social change and act as pressure
group for the interest of common people and reveals the all deeds of the
government. Mass media in its full swing of working can openly criticize the
government and have right to place their view on certain situation. Further mass
media help to generate a common platform which tries to focus on core issues of
the society and its need. So media role is as much important in influencing
activities of the political parties as that of other pressure group working to
strive certain specific goals. In-fact in this contemporary world media acts as
agent of change focusing on social development of society and hence media role
of pressurizing government given it nature of pressure group which is of vital
importance.
4. Features of Indian pressure groups
Ø
Based on certain interest-The
basis on which each pressure group are formed are the certain
interest. Each pressure group organizes itself keeping in view
certain interests.
Ø
Lack of alignment with any party-Pressure group
in India functions in multi-party system environment. Hence they try to
maintain relation with all of them. During 1947-89 pressure group
tries to keep good relation with congress as it was the ruling party in most
part of India. Since mid 1990'spressure group in India try to influence all
major national party.
Ø
Pressure group uses party
platform- pressure groups uses party platform to seek
their interest fulfilled. They try to maintain their relation with
both ruling and opposition party.
Ø
presence of political parties
sponsored pressure group- In India political parties always
tries to organize their own interest groups in various trade,
professions and industries. For example Congress-Youth congress, Communist
party-Student's federation of India, Bhartiya Janta party-Akhil Bhartiya
vidhjarthi Parisad etc.
Ø
Resulting out of
increasing pressure and demand on resources-
As resources of developing country are usually scarce, there are claims and
counter claims on their resources from different and competing section of
society emerging as pressure group.
Ø
Use of traditional and modern means-
Indian pressure group use both modern and traditional means. Modern
method like lobbying, funding political parties, introducing favorable person
in the legislature, executive and cultivate connections with bureaucratic
officials, traditional loyalties, caste loyalties, religious loyalties etc are
traditional method.
Ø
Existence of several caste family
and religion based groups- Several
Indian pressure group have been formed for promoting the interest of
certain caste and religion. The All Indian Rajput sabha, The Jat organization,
the Jain Sabhas, Shiv Sena, Brahmin Sabha, Reddi sangam etc.
Ø
A counter check on political parties-
India is having mixed economy and its foremost goal is included in planned
development. In this context the pressure group plays vital role and act
as a counter cheek to politics and political parties. For example-acts like
MRPT or land reforms.
Ø
Keep on emerging and dissolving-
According to the interest the pressure group formed and
once interest attained the pressure groups may dissolve. Pressure groups
are temporary in nature which keeps on emerging and dissolving after some time.
For example anti-sati group, anti-dowry etc. The Civil society group which
became very active in Delhi on the Nirbaya incident has gone into oblivion once
Nirbaya Act was brought in by the Government.
Ø
More dependent on means of direct
action- Indian pressure groups depends more on methods
of direct action such as bandh, strikes, gheraos etc.
Ø
influence being shifted from
negative to positive- In India pressure group
initially influence negatively as preventing nationalization of rice
trade, food grain, increase in land tax etc. But now pressure group
has positive influence, it assists government in forming rules. For
example wheat policy of government framed in March 1974 was outcome of positive
efforts and support of all-India food grain dealers association.
Ø
State acts
as pressure group- Constitution under Article 262 and
263 makes provision for central parliament to settle border disputes and
inter-state water disputes where in the members of every states maintains its
liaison officers in Delhi to maintain its contact and act
as pressure group.
5. Role of pressure group in India
The capacity of
pressure groups is determined by leadership, organizational abilities, mass
media, economic power base and mobilizations technique. Beside this they are
using lobbying method, strike, bandhs, demonstrations, funding political
parties, using party platform etc. Even pressure group role is indirect it
facilitates many vital roles in administration.
The various
roles of pressure groups are as follows-
ü
Role in legislature-
Pressure groups tries to introduce their chosen person into legislature.
Further, they may exert to influence on Legislature to enact certain law. They
help political parties on the eve of election and prepares election manifesto
and fund them also to achieve desired objective. The civil society groups under the leadership
of Anna Hazare has exerted maximum pressure on the then Govt. to pass Jan Lok
Pal bill. Similarly, Nirbhaya Act.
ü
Role in executive-Pressure
group tries to fill high executive posts with men of their own choice i.e.
selection of cabinet, distribution of portfolios and P.M selection due to
prevalence of collation government. And henceforth influences policy
implementation process.
ü
Role in Bureaucracy-
Bureaucrats are politically neutral and hence pressure group tries to oblige
them by putting good remarks that protect their interests. Bureaucrats have
long tenure and so they are in contact with them to oblige.
ü
Role in judiciary-appointment
of judges in political affairs and here pressure groups plays important role in
that high judicial offices are occupied by them.
ü
Developments of marginalized
sections- Several Tribal activist groups have spearheading the
movements against the exploitation of tribal population and forced Govt. to
pass pro-tribal forest policies and Forest Act. The Forest Act, 2006 is one
such piece of legislation.
6. Criticism of Pressure groups
Pressure group
in India are basically criticized on the following grounds-
Ø
Focus on parochial interest-Pressure
group getting influence by their sectional and local interest more as compared
to their common interest.
Ø
Lack of effective membership-Pressure
groups do not have well developed infrastructure which can help them in regular
way pursuing their interest.
Ø
Lack of autonomous existence-Most
of the pressure groups except business groups does not have an independent
autonomous existence of their own. Most of them dominated by political parties,
which tries to divide each pressure group and have strong hold over one group
at least.
Ø
Varying life span-In
India we have loose and disorganized multiparty system hence even pressure
group appears big and small with varying life span that appears and disappears.
Ø
Unstable-Pressure
group lacks stability and commitment which results in shift in their loyalties
according to changing political situation.
Ø
Ineffective for interest
articulation-pressure group like trade union in
India lacked trained and competent functionaries. They have been not effective
agents of interest articulation in India.
Ø
Use of unconstitutional method-Pressure
groups in India tries to influence the government mainly through various
unconstitutional methods such as strikes, agitation, demonstration, lockouts
etc.
Ø
Sometimes led to mass violence -Pressure
group involves with protest and certain radicalization of political life
results into mass violence. For example Naxalite movement starting after fourth
general election of 1967 in west Bengal.
Ø
Threat to democratic set up-The
tendency of pressure group to resort to coercion to secure the solution of a
socio-political problem in streets could be regarded as a serious threat to
democratic set up.
7. Difference between political
party and pressure group
Political party
and pressure group both very important in decision making of the
various policies and exists along with political parties in every nation but
there is vast difference between the two. The major difference between
political parties and pressure group are as follows-
Ø Pressure group
is the public body acting behind the political party(outside political party) where
as political parties constitutes government
Ø Pressure group
act is indirect as well as intermittent. They try to influence and
pressurize the government to get their demand fulfilled. They do not intervene
directly where as Political parties act directly, they are legally entitled to
frame policies and take decision concerning the country.
Ø Pressure groups
pressurize executive and legislature to achieve its aim where as Political parties
bring co-ordination in the working of executive and legislature.
Ø pressure group
uses both conventional and non-conventional means to demonstrate their demands
where as Political parties uses only constitutional means to execute its duties
and functions
Ø Pressure group
works for self interest, they emerge and dissolve as per the need of
certain groups where as Political party works for national interests and not
merely for any certain group or objective.
Ø Pressure group
emerges and dissolves where as political parties are recognized by election
commission.
8.
Differences between pressure groups in India and west
Both India and Western
countries are democracies. But within western countries there are differences
between Presidential and Parliamentary forms of government. India though a
parliamentary democracy differs from such countries of the West in terms of
developmental levels. Therefore there are some differences in the role of
pressure groups.
Firstly, the American
pressure groups are regarded as the fourth organ of the government but the
Indian pressure groups are not yet able to play such significant role in
polities.
Secondly, in India and Great
Britain, the cabinet and civil services are the main targets of pressure groups
for lobbying purposes rather than the parliament. However, the targets of
American pressure groups are the Congress and its committees rather than the
President for lobbying purposes.
Thirdly, Indian pressure
groups based on caste, religion, region, etc. are more powerful than the modern
groups like business organizations. Fourthly, a significant feature of American
pressure groups is that in the USA pressure groups take interest in foreign
policy issues while in India pressure groups do not seem to have interest in
foreign policy matters. Comparatively, the Indian pressure groups are concerned
more with domestic policy issues and problems, and less with foreign policy
matters.
Fourthly, the pressure
groups in the west are more organized than that of Indian pressure groups. In
the USA and west, the lobbying for certain facilities is legal where as they
are not legal in India.
9. Conclusion:
The role of pressure groups is to achieve their
objectives by exerting pressure on the Government. Thus the works of these
groups are done as per their wish, though they are not in power. Till their demands,
help some vulnerable group or section of people or a group of business or some
unintended injustice either removed or avoided, it is good for the country,
otherwise, they may do more harm than favour by further promoting nepotism and
favoritism, at the cost of genuine and deserving group or business.
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