About 80 participants from all over the country attended the meeting. Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, CSR made a presentation highlighting the initiatives of NGOs with regard to womens' issues, there successes and limitations. She emphasised on the need for a national level women's body to interact and influence the members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. Ms. Terry Rogers, IFES, made a presentation on how European Women's lobby works. She said, "internationally, the European Women's Lobby, which is the largest coordinating body of national and European non-governmental women's organizations in the European Union, is contributing significantly to the cause of women. In US, there is a well-defined state act on lobbying. The women lobbyists at US also serve as a link between the political parties and women's organizations., The meeting was addressed by Ms. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, President, Women's Wing, All India Congress Committee; Ms. Mridula Sinha, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board; Ms. Poonam Advani, Chairperson, National Women's Commission; Ms. Shabana Azmi, former MP and women's activist.

Centre for Social Research is already involved in the "Outside Lobbying" (or grass-root lobbying"), by using advocacy and networking as a tool for changing public opinion, and thereby influencing the legislators and the policy makers. However, the process "Inside Lobbying", which is lobbying in the sense of formal process of lobbying with the legislators is not prevalent in India, especially in case of nonprofit sector. Centre For Social Research shall take the initiative to start a formal process of 'inside lobbying' in India. The main idea behind the project is to make lobbying a regulated activity to influence the decisions of the parliamentarians. The lobbying forum shall also act as think tank and aim to lobby governments with the backing of supporting research and regular releases of detailed reports.

CSR has been working in the social sector for last 20 years and is committed to strengthening, empowering, and partnering with similar non-profit and philanthropic organizations. CSR forum on lobbying can also work on behalf of the non-profit organizations, foundations, citizens, and corporates engaged into philanthropy programs and can serve every cause in every region of the country, by representing millions of people.

The CSR Forum shall:

1. Perform the regular activities of lobbying by attempting to influence:

• the passage or defeat of legislation; or

• the approval or disapproval of any legislation; or

• the adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of law by the government; or

• the outcome of any rate-making proceeding by a
  state agency.

2. Work as a meeting ground for non-profit and philanthropic leaders and organizations to take collective action on issues that have an impact on the non- profit sector and its work;

3. Promote policies that favour the rights of the interest groups for which the non-profit organizations are committed;

4. Encourage the non-profit sector to meet the highest standards of ethical practice, value, and effectiveness;

5. Analyze and interpret the relevant legislations, policies and laws that are being introduced or shall take initiative to introduce a bill, amendment etc.

6. Carry out relevant research and gather other secondary data concerning the legislation and the issues involved and the target beneficiary group to back up the lobbying action;

7. Serve as the voice of the non-profit sector to the media, government, business houses, and international voluntary communities.

India is one of the largest democracies, and it is the right of every citizen of India to petition the government on various laws and polices that affect them. By initiating a forum, such as this, the non-profit sector can become one of the most effective vehicles for making use of citizen participation in shaping public policy.

Other Key Activities shall include:

1. Lobbying on legislation and engaging in public policy advocacy through voter and prospective candidate education and training

2. Raising awareness about our mission among the fellow non-profit organizations

3. Mobilizing members, volunteers, donors and people at all levels to raise their concerns effectively

4. Attracting media attention to gain major inroads into the political process and the masses

5. Establishing and expanding government/donor funds in important social programs by raising issues

6. Suggesting amendments and reforms in laws and regulations by setting up advisory committees on each issue/sector

The main idea behind the forum shall be to make positive contribution to the process of law making, so that the benefits are reaped to the maximum.

Advocacy v/s Lobbying

For CSR, lobbying has been only a small part of the advocacy carried out: Almost all social changes start with non-lobbying advocacy, but in order to get the end results, have ended with major lobbying like efforts. This kind of non-profit action has been carried out repeatedly over the years, whether it is an issue for the protection of women's rights, or child labor laws, or formalizing of work regulations for people working in informal sector of the economy. All initially combined a broad spectrum of non-lobbying advocacy activities, with lobbying employed somewhat later to achieve the needed change in public policy.

CSR is committed to the cause of the women and the underprivileged. At the same time, CSR believes in accountability of the government to the public, especially in bringing about social, economic and political justice.

This project shall enhance the capability of CSR to achieve greater equity in the sharing of this nation's vast resources. This forum shall be used to change public policy in order to assist the most vulnerable in our society. Once we develop the skills of lobbying, we can transfer the same to influence legislation for the people we serve.

Lobbying requires looking at an issue from all angles, creativity, producing compelling arguments, good plans and execution. It also requires a great deal of sensitivity towards issues and a balanced and unbiased will to achieve greater goals.