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CSR Initiative | Events\Seminars\ Meetings | WPC Newsletter 

Economic Networks or Business Interest Groups, such as FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM have been successfully representing the interest of the industry in India for years. Today, the government, before declaring any policy or a regulation targeting the industry, tries to seek the views of these bodies.

Similar to the Business Interest Groups, are the Agricultural Interest Groups, which advocate for farmers and workers to protect their interests. There are also organizations working as Labor Interest Groups that represent the working class interests. There are Trade Unions and Public Employee Interest Groups also. These groups represent employees of central and state governments and public sector undertakings and teachers. Lawyers themselves have organized into Bar Associations and similarly there are Medical Associations for Doctors.The contributions of this plethora of forums for the industry, agriculture, and trade have been well accredited for. They have made immense contribution in raising issues and influencing the policy makers, the legislators, and the law enforcers for the benefit of the community they represent. These forums not only identify issues that concern a particular area of work, but also draft bills and policies that work in favour of the community they represent.

However, when we look at the situation of the non-governmental sector or the non-profit sector, similar forums are missing. There are organizations, which are more proactive than the others, and may raise issues and try to influence the decisions of the policy makers. However, without a concretized effort, the whole exercise becomes a waste. The need therefore, is to create a body, which will speak for the voices of these NGOs, especially for NGOs working for the empowerment of women.