Pressure Groups & their role in Democracy

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.  

*****