Conference on Public Policy, Management in B'lore from tomorrow

Bangalore, Apr 11 (UNI) Issues concerning the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Livelihood Opportunities through Financial Inclusion will be debated at the three-day second annual Conference on Public Policy and Management in the city from tomorrow.

Organised by the Centre for Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, the conference, with the main theme 'Policy in Practice: Effective Policies for Enhancing Rural Livelihood Opportunities', proposed to examine issues relating to inadequacies in the Act, preparedness of agencies responsible for implementation, key inadequacies in the working process and possible remedial measures.

The conference sought to examine the level of access to financial services by the poor, with a particular focus on traditional agriculture and non-farm livelihood opportunities. The objective would be to recognise innovative mechanisms that could enable better access to financial services, according to a release here today.

In collaboration with the Indian Society of Agri-Business Management, the conference would also conduct a symposium on Biodiesel, which would discuss issues relating to commercial viability, policy and institutional framework and implementation strategies, the release said.

Public Affairs Centre Founder-Chairperson Dr Samuel Paul would deliver the inaugural address and Magsaysay awardee and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghathan Founder Aruna Roy would deliver the keynote address on the Act, the release said.

The conference would launch the 'Indian Society for Public Policy and Management Professionals', with the objective of promoting research, dissemination and exchange among professionals, practitioners and policy makers involved in the field, it added.

UNI