The second annual three-day Public Policy Dialogues of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, started on Wednesday. The keynote speaker, Dr K Srinath Reddy, compared policymaking to a digital camera and emphasized the need for policymakers to focus on both the ground level and the overall goals for a country’s development.
Dr Reddy, an honorary distinguished professor at the Public Health Foundation of India, highlighted the importance of public policy being multi-disciplinary and grounded. He mentioned that public policy should prioritize the welfare and happiness of those who depend on it. He also discussed the interconnected nature of human development, using the example of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and how they are interrelated.
This year’s dialogues are centered around the theme of human development. During the plenary session on ‘Human Development Perspective from India’, Amarjeet Sinha, a retired IAS officer, emphasized the need to bridge the gap between micro and macro aspects of public policy. He mentioned the importance of addressing the aspirations of students from government schools. Sinha also announced the publication of six volumes of books capturing experiential learning to contribute to grassroots knowledge.
The second annual public policy dialogues have six sub-themes: Improving Learning Outcomes in School, Institutional Challenges in Social Development, Healthcare for All, Climate Action and Justice; Livelihood Diversification and Skills; and Improved Nutritional Outcomes. Experts from various sectors will participate in expert panel discussions and roundtables.
Professor Ashwini Chhatre, executive director of BIPP, highlighted two key motivations for the discussions. The first motivation is to shift the focus back to human development rather than solely sustainable development goals. He emphasized critical aspects such as learning outcomes in primary education, early childhood nutrition, and universal healthcare. The second motivation is to translate existing practical knowledge into effective policies.
The plenary session was opened by Dr Aarushi Jain, policy director of BIPP, who introduced the panelists.
