Introduction To Pressure Groups In India
The pressure groups also known as the interest groups or vested groups are a group of individuals who are arranged actively for encouraging and defending their common interest. It is called so, as it tries to prompt a change in public policy by applying pressure on the government. It acts as an affiliation between the government and its members.
The pressure groups or interest groups in India vary from the political parties, as they neither contest elections nor attempt to capture political power. They pertain to particular programmes and problems and their activities are restrained to the protection and promotion of the interests of their members by persuading the government.
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Influence Of Pressure Groups In India
The pressure groups persuade the policy-making and policy execution in the government through legal and legitimate techniques like lobbying, propagandizing, petitioning, public debating, publicity, organizing contacts and correspondence with their legislators and so forth.
Characteristics of Pressure Groups
Pressure groups may function at regional, local, national or even international level, based on the cause and notice.
They are extensively recognized as a significant component of the democratic process.
Pressure groups are generally non-profit and volunteer organization
Interest groups in India seek to influence political or corporate decision makers to accomplish an announced objective.
All pressure groups in India share a desire to affect government policy to advantage themselves or their causes.
Pressure groups are assemblage of individuals who carry a similar set of values and beliefs depending upon the political philosophy, ethnicity, religion, or a common objective.
Pressure groups are often indicative of perspective of people who are dissatisfied with the current conditions in society.
These are a natural protuberance of the societies of interest which exist in all communities.
The pressure groups never form governments or contest elections but affect the decision of Government or public policy.
The interest groups in India seek to influence change by influencing political parties.
These groups may be better able to concentrate on specialized issues, while political parties tend to witness a wide range of issues.
Types of Pressure Groups In India
There are different types of pressure groups that exist in India but sadly they are not as developed as compared to the Western Countries like the United States, England, and France. Pressure groups can be divided into following categories.
Business Groups
One of the most imperative, influential and organized pressure groups in India is the business groups. Examples of pressure groups of business include- Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Associated Chamber of Commerce (ASSOCHA), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) – key constituents are the Central Commercial Organization of Delhi and Bengal Chamber of Commerce Calcutta.
Trade Unions
Trade unions serve to the demand of laborers of the industries. On the other hand, they are also called labor groups. In India, different trade unions speak for different political parties. Examples of trade union pressure groups include- The All India Trade Union Congress (Communist Party of India) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
Anomic Groups
Anomic pressure groups are those voluntary groups that are formed with a collective response through riots, assassinations, demonstrations etc. The Indian government and bureaucratic elite, overwhelmed by the issues of economic development and shortage of resources available to them, inevitably obtain a technocratic and anti-political state of mind, specific demands of whatever types are refused legitimacy. As a result, pressure groups are estranged from the political system. Some of the anomic groups are- Naxalite groups, All Assam Students Union, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and United Liberation Front of Assam.
Agrarian Groups
These groups speak for the farmers community of India and operate for their well-being. Example- Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Hind Kisan Panchayat (regulation of socialist).
Professional Association
Such associations lift the concern of working professionals in India ranging from doctors and lawyers, teachers and journalists. Examples include Bar Council of India (BCI), Dental Council of India and Association of Engineers.
Tribal Organization
Tribal groups in India are leading groups in North East India and Central India, and are also active in North East India and in the Central Indian Tribal belt. These organizations include All-India Jharkhand, Tribal Sangh of Assam and National Socialist Council of Nagaland.
Religious Organizations
The organizations based on religion play a significant role in Indian Politics. They represent the tapered viewpoints and are often known as anti-secular. Examples of these organizations are Brahmo Samaj, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Student Organizations
There are several organizations that have come to play to represent the causes and atrocities of students in India. Examples are All Assam Students Union (Asom Gana Parishad), Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (Aam Aadmi Party) and National Students Union of India (Congress).
Caste Groups
Caste is one of the salient attributes of Indian Society. But, besides it has always been one of the beliefs discouraging the desire of people and the constitution of India. The caste factor has always been prevalent in elections of India. Examples of caste groups are Harijan Sewak Sangh and Marwari Association.
Linguistic Groups
There are a total 22 scheduled languages in India. But, there have been different groups and movements working for the welfare of languages in India. For example- Tamil Sangh and Hindi Sahitya Sammelan etc.
Ideology Based Group
Ideology based groups have been created recently. Some examples of pressure groups like these include Environment Protection Groups like Civil liberties associations, Chipko movement, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Democratic rights organization, Women rights organisation and Narmada Bachao Andolan.
Conclusion
Pressure groups are now considered as a crucial and useful element of the democratic process. Society has become largely complex and people cannot pursue their interests on their own.
FAQs on Pressure Groups In India
1. What are the techniques used by pressure groups?
Pressure groups in India resort to three different techniques in capturing their objectives that are as follows:-
Electioneering: Placing in public office individuals who are preferably inclined towards the interests the concerned pressure group desires to encourage.
Lobbying: Influencing public officers, whether they are initially preferably inclined toward them or not, to adopt and implement the policies that they believe will prove most advantageous to their interests.
Propagandizing: Influencing public opinion and hence acquiring an indirect persuasion over government, since the government in a democracy is sizably influenced by public opinion.
2. What are the shortcomings of pressure groups in India?
There are several pitfalls associated with pressure groups that are as follows:-
Misuse of Power: Rather than the pressure groups imposing influence on the political process, they become tools to subserve political interests.
Narrow Selfish Interests: On contrary to the pressure groups in the developed Western countries, where these are organized without exception to protect the social, economical and cultural interests etc. While in India these groups are organized around regional and religious concerns. The consequence is that rather than serving a useful purpose in the political administrative process, they are minimized to work for narrow selfish interests.
Publicizing Extremism: Pressure groups enable too much control over the government through the unelected extremist minority groups, which in turn could result in despise consequences.
Instability: Most pressure groups lack autonomous existence; they lack commitment and are unstable, their loyalties shift with political circumstances that threaten general welfare. Naxalite movement that began in 1967 in West Bengal is amongst most prominent examples of pressure groups
