1. Civil Society Engagement in the 11 th Plan Possibilities & Constraints Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President, PRIA 42 Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110 062 Tel: +91-11-29960931/32/33; Fax: +91-11-29955183 Email: rajeshtandon@pria.org; Web: www.pria.org 15 th December 2008

2. Inclusive Growth assumes high (10%) annual growth revival in agricultural growth private sector investment in infrastructure enhanced investment in education, health, water—essential services good governance high (10%) annual growth revival in agricultural growth private sector investment in infrastructure enhanced investment in education, health, water—essential services good governance

3. Roles of civil society envisaged capacity building (community, CBOs, PRIs, participation/empowerment (marginalized, women) support to PRIs (in service delivery) service delivery (SC,ST, NER, rural technology, PIM, entrepreneurs (in financial matters) Harmonising CBOs with PRIs ‘Watch dog’, democratic accountability (for regulators?) States & markets capacity building (community, CBOs, PRIs, participation/empowerment (marginalized, women) support to PRIs (in service delivery) service delivery (SC,ST, NER, rural technology, PIM, entrepreneurs (in financial matters) Harmonising CBOs with PRIs ‘Watch dog’, democratic accountability (for regulators?) States & markets

4. National Policy on Voluntary Sector most comprehensive first statement of intent by central govt. inclusive definition of voluntary sector three instruments of partnership a) formal consultative mechanisms at all levels b) strategic collaboration for complex issues where social mobilization is critical over long term c) project funding through standard schemes support to capacity development & accountability of Vos most comprehensive first statement of intent by central govt. inclusive definition of voluntary sector three instruments of partnership a) formal consultative mechanisms at all levels b) strategic collaboration for complex issues where social mobilization is critical over long term c) project funding through standard schemes support to capacity development & accountability of Vos

5. Constraints Who ‘owns’ this policy? Cabinet, central govt, Planning Comm, none? Perspective of policy not informed the formulation of Plan Confusions about… ‘community, people’s groups, CBOs, VOs, NGOs, CSOs, civil society, PRIs, local bodies, throughout the text? Are these all the same? Serve same functions? Whatever happened to strategic partnerships? Will anything happen for enabling environment? Govt. funding (CAPART & Min of Social Justice, specially) ‘breeds’ corruption in VOs Who ‘owns’ this policy? Cabinet, central govt, Planning Comm, none? Perspective of policy not informed the formulation of Plan Confusions about… ‘community, people’s groups, CBOs, VOs, NGOs, CSOs, civil society, PRIs, local bodies, throughout the text? Are these all the same? Serve same functions? Whatever happened to strategic partnerships? Will anything happen for enabling environment? Govt. funding (CAPART & Min of Social Justice, specially) ‘breeds’ corruption in VOs

6. Risks Constrained to play limited roles—service delivery, assisting PRIs (not municipalities?), sharing information—predominantly at local level Vision of private sector contributions and roles clear, crisp, unambiguous; not so for civil society? Civil society as building blocks of democracy— social mobilisation, demanding accountability, nurturing social capital---non-existant? Compromised?

7. Cont… Reforming the governments’ delivery system for the ‘inclusive’ not addressed? No roles for civil society? Key constraint for decades? Continuous risk? Knowledge and policy making contributions marginalized, shift to academia? Conscientisation & mobilization contributions ‘transferred’ to media?

8. Big Gaps Sustainable, autonomous, diversified and inclusive development of civil society missing—WE SHOULD DEFINE? Does Global India have a global contribution of Indian civil society? (contributions in UN, Commonwealth, SAARC, Trade regimes)? And does India’s development investments abroad require some interventions of Indian civil society? New agendas for the nation (terrorism/violence, social harmony, urbanization?) need a vibrant/active civil society?