Pressure groups and civil society organisations in India
India has many pressure groups: business, labour, peasant, caste, language and institutional groups, and civil society organisations that use mostly peaceful tactics such as satyagraha.
Kinds of pressure groups in India
| Kind | Examples from your lesson |
|---|---|
| Traditional social and religious groups | Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Parsi Anjuman, Anglo-Indian Christian Association |
| Caste groups | Brahmin Sabha, the Nair society |
| Language groups | Tamil Sangh, Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu |
| Business groups | Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) |
| Workers and peasants | All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Kisan Sabha |
| Institutional groups | Civil Services Association, Non-Gazetted Officers' Union |
| Student groups | All Assam Students' Union, for example asking for a college in a rural area |
Civil society organisations: a new form of pressure
Civil society organisations (CSOs) are groups set up by ordinary citizens who care strongly about an issue. Civil society is the space between the State and the individual. CSOs work on issues such as environmental protection, price rise, corruption, gender discrimination, child labour and street children. Many act as pressure groups: they push the government to make or carry out policies. They give people a channel to voice grievances and point out when promises are not kept. They draw in committed young people and act as a school of good citizenship. Most believe in non-violent methods.
Civil society organisations named in your lesson
- Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Rajasthan: its people's movement led to the Right to Information law.
- Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA): influenced policies on the rights of women workers.
- People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL): works on civil liberties and human rights.
- National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), National Alliance of Women's Organisations (NAWO) and Medico Friends Circle (MFC).
- Movements such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan and India Against Corruption drew in large numbers of people.
Pressure tactics used in India
- Satyagraha: Gandhi used it against foreign rule, and it is still used today.
- Hunger strikes, dharnas, demonstrations and public meetings.
- Strikes and boycotts.
- Memorandums to legislative committees, and campaigns in the media to build public opinion.
- Letter campaigns: women in Kerala sent postcards to the Prime Minister and the President in support of peace in Manipur.
- In Manipur, the Meira Paibis (women's groups) and Apunba Lup have pressed the government to hear people's grievances. Their demands include repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The Right to Information law lets any citizen ask a government office for information, such as the status of a ration card application. It came after a long campaign by a civil society organisation.
1 marks: “Which organisation led the people's movement for the Right to Information law?” The Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Rajasthan.
2 marks: “What are civil society organisations? Name any two working in India.” Groups set up by ordinary citizens to pursue issues of common concern; many press the government on policy. Examples: Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA).
3 marks: “Give a brief account of the different kinds of pressure groups in India, with examples.” Traditional and caste groups (Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Brahmin Sabha); language groups (Tamil Sangh); business (FICCI); workers and peasants (AITUC, Kisan Sabha); institutional (Civil Services Association); students (All Assam Students' Union); and CSOs such as MKSS and SEWA.
Seven kinds of pressure groups: traditional, caste, language, business, workers and peasants, institutional, students. Then add the CSOs.