Dear BNK ji
Your mail has added more value to the earlier discussion we had in prpoint group on 'Narendra modi engaging APCO for lobbying'.
The problem in India is that nobody has the right knowledge of the concept of 'Public Affairs', which is practised legally in US and UK. Since there is no law for lobbying as available in other countries, many firms engage in 'lobbying' as they like.
I know how some of the leading firms indulge in 'bribing' or 'fixing' in the name of lobbying. Naturally, in the absence of the right awareness and proper rules, people tend to mistake the lobbying as an unethical practise. They also see how 'it is getting done'.
Amidst all protests in the Parliament, FDI was passed with few parties opposing inside the Parliament and voting in favour. On the next day, Wallmart story appears in the media. Naturally, people tend to suspect more.
Nira Radia started practising in an unprofessional manner. This has added more negative perception on the term lobbying itself.
Many of the professionals, including Corporate CEOs, bureaucrats, politicians may not know the nuances of Public Affairs and Lobbying.
Many of the professionals, including Corporate CEOs, bureaucrats, politicians may not know the nuances of Public Affairs and Lobbying.
Even take our own PR and corpcom professionals. According to me more than 98% of them may not know about the public affairs. Many of our own PR and communication professionals think, that getting few media clips is the ultimate.
Way back in October 2010, I published the full edition of PreSense on Public Affairs, with exclusive interviews from the international leaders/experts on this subject.
I feel, the time has come that as senior professionals, we need to impress upon the Government to legalise the Public Affairs with more transparent systems. Our professional bodies like PRCAI, PRCI, PRSI, ABCI, GFPR should take up with the Government to take it forward. If needed, they can also organise a joint meeting and deliberate on this.
Since, we are a community of communicaton professionals, we can also educate the media about the Public Affairs and start developing stories in the media, so that pressure is built on the Government to legalise the profession to ensure transparency.
The country is debating this issue with suspicion, because, now, transparency is lacking in India. People who criticise lobbying are keeping 'nira radia' model only in their minds.
I welcome suggestions.
srinivasan
Prime Point
9176650273
On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM, BNK 24x7 <mailbnk@gmail.com> wrote:
I just fail to understand why these politicians are creating such a ruckus over lobbying. Persuading the authorities and educating them on issues should be considered as legitimate considering the fact that many law makers are not aware of the right and wrong aspects of any policy or government decision.
They need not be bribed, but the expenses on banquets, travelling and commissioning of research reports could all well be considered as expenditure on lobbying which by any stretch of imagination can be termed illegal.Considering the knowledge levels of our law makers, they need to be constantly educated. They are too busy either politicking or finding ways to broaden their voter base with little or no time for acquiring knowledge.
Looking at their behaviour during sessions, one would wonder if some of them know basic constitutional knowledge of what is state subject and what is union matter. One sees ministers reminding them of such subjects.
Will these politicians consider as lobbying the media education/awareness exercises that corporates undertake through PR networks targeting the politicians and government?
Journalists like Arnab may even loudly ask: What education?
I am reminded of what late Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh had one said at the inauguration of the Press Club -Mumbai's new building: "You Press Club members must indulge in some thinking, while indulging in drinking. You must train journalists, particularly the young TV reporters, on how to ask questions." That is the kind of education that I am talking about.
The Defence Ministry used to conduct war correspondents courses - and I had undergone one of them as a journalist - to educate them on aspects of armed forces - the army, air force and navy - so that the scribes could be better equipped to understand and write.
Given an opportunity, the Mani Shankar Prasads of the world would term even such courses as lobbying!Even the Government of India does lobbying through the diplomatic channels to win over the key influencers not only in various countries, but even at the UN level.My firm opinion is lobbying should not be considered as something illegitimate.
Request forum members to share their thoughtsThanks and regardsBNK--
Thanks & Regards
BNK 24x7
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