Page 45 - UDYAMA FINAL final for web

any area affect each other. For design programmes or projects. which specific objectives and
example, provision of energy de- Programme evaluation is used to actions should be pursued to meet
cisions are closely interrelated make realistic Programme adjust- the needs of those in the particular
“ of the economy, as energy supply nded and unintended result of tion. Government should make
destination areas under considera-
with and affect almost all aspects
ments as well as identifying inte-
policy as new policies will no
policy efforts. This is why dec-
is a multi-sectoral activity. The
longer concentrate on economic
ision - making bodies need valid
construction of a dam affects the
prevailing land use policy if the
but will emphases the demand for
land is being used by farmers. It information about the future and and technical necessities alone,
the positive and negative impact
may affect the environment as of potential decisions. Fourth, an unspoiled environment and
well as the society. Therefore, policy leads to concrete actions in consideration of the needs of the
policy making should display terms of programme. If policy is all stakeholders.
cohesion between multi-sectoral not connected to an effective
aspects and should strive to ach- programme then a policy
ieve coherent and viable co-ordi- cannot be implemen-
nation between multi-faceted adj- ted. In Other wo-
ectives. As implied, a policy can rds, there is no
be seen as a group of decisions. plan.
In general, policies are
“
Second, policy refers to a state- In practice,
ment of intentions of the authori- public pol- generalised statements of
tative institutions. These institu- icy is us- intentions of how to formulate
tions may include the government ually the
or the private sector. However, in outcome development plans. In other
most developing countries the of a pol- words, policy represents the
government is responsible for itical pro-
overall economic policy. The sta- cess in wh- basic foundation for developing
tement of intentions or policy may ich differe- and maintaining the sector
be implicit (not documented) or nt interest gr-
explicit (documented). Most ofte- oups maneuv- considered
n, government policy decisions er to achieve th- ”
” ugh the government policy deci- ence of long-term pri-
eir aims. The influ-
have been documented. Even tho-
sions have been documented. Ev-
nciples depends on the st-
en though the government may
atesman and politicians in follow-
not issue a specific document
This is very relevant to both
labeled a policy statement, it may ing or leading public opinion. In general, policies are general-
ised statements of intentions of
still make decision and take acti- developing countries and the how to formulate development pl-
ons which practically make effec- developed countries. ans. In other words, policy repre-
tive choices between the alterna- sents the basic foundation for
tives. For example, environmental Public policy has been under- developing and maintaining the
policy can be seen as a written stood to mean concrete economic sector considered. Hence it has to
statement in some countries such policy-the activity of various nati- rely on a coherent set of econom-
as Sri Lanka and Namibia. Some onal decision-making centres to ic, political, socio-cultural and
countries, like the United King- achieve specific objectives. These spatial objectives. These objec-
dom, do not have a written state- objectives can be economic, soc- tives have to be placed into a
ment of energy policy but the io-cultural or environmental. It decision framework whose prima-
government supports energy sup- provides broad guidelines, which ry functions is the achievement of
ply and takes relevant decisions shape the development of the se- aims with specified means in a
and actions. Hence, policy may be ctor considered. Policy is the certain period of time.
implied rather than having been basis of the any national develop-
made explicit in some countries. ment plan and represents he basic Need for a policy
foundation for developing and
Third, policy is prospective in maintaining the sector consid- First and foremost, the interrelat-
terms of programme action and is ered. Hence policy may act as a ed system of different activities
used to aid manage plans and set of guidelines to determine suggests that there is a greater

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