The second annual three-day Public Policy Dialogues of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, was held from January 3-5, 2024, at the Hyderabad campus. This year, the Dialogues—a platform to delve into multiple public policy issues, focusing on challenges and innovations, bringing a congregation of policymakers, researchers, practitioners, civil society, media, and academia under one roof— focussed on the theme of Human Development and its importance.

At the Inaugural Plenary, Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, & Convenor, Public Policy Dialogues, extended a warm welcome to all the guests and introduced the theme and sub-themes of the Dialogues.

Addressing the congregation, Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, set the context of the conference. In his address, he shared two key motivations that underpinned the discussions to follow. He said, “The first motivation emphasises a deliberate shift- ‘back to basics’ by concentrating on human development rather than only sustainable development goals. As much as the sustainable development goals are valuable, they might be too many, and not all equally significant. I urge that we renew our emphasis on critical aspects such as learning outcomes in primary education, early childhood nutrition, and universal healthcare that lead to human development. The intention is to draw attention to unmet challenges, encouraging a serious consideration of human development issues”.

Laying emphasis on experiential knowledge, he said, “The second motivation centers around the wealth of practical knowledge that already exists. The challenge lies in translating this practical knowledge into effective policies. Together, these motivations underscore the need to prioritise human development concerns and leverage existing practical knowledge to inform and shape impactful public policies.”

Amarjeet Singh, Retd. IAS & Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board, delivered a special talk on ‘Human Development Perspective from India’ and highlighted the importance of public policy dialogues in understanding and crafting credible public systems. He said that the exploration of the six subthemes of human development is not solely for the sake of research but rather to gain insights into what contributes to the establishment of credible public systems. Sinha mentioned that six volumes of knowledge products will be generated to capture experiential learnings, subject them to rigorous academic scrutiny, and contribute to grassroots knowledge.

Delivering the keynote address, Padma Bhushan awardee Dr K Srinath Reddy, Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Public Health Foundation of India, used the analogy of a digital camera to stress that policymakers need to “zoom into the ground level while also keeping a panoramic view of the overall goals for development of a country”.

The second annual Public Policy Dialogues had 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. A roundtable and a panel discussion each was organised for all the six sub-themes. Sessions on innovation sandbox presentation and research poster presentation were also held as part of the three-day event.

To keep the speakers, delegates, and participants enthralled in the evenings after deliberations on Human Development during the day, a qawwali night by Warsi Brothers, and a theatrical performance by the Ekjute Theatre Group led by actress Juhi Babbar Soni, followed by networking dinners were also held.

Over the course of three days, more than 300 people representing the social development sector, media, civil society, and academics, participated, and deliberated on innovations to drive change, both on stage and off it, ensuring that human development in India becomes a global success story.

International Learning Exchange on the theme of Radical Forest Futures

To empower voices from diverse communities and build collaborative relationships, the Bharti School of Public Policy organised the ‘International Learning Exchange 2023’ on the theme “Radical Forest Futures,” at Delhi University. This exchange, aimed at creating a dynamic multistakeholder platform, was co-created with the Policy and Development Advisory Group, Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative, Vasundhara, and the AJK Mass Communication Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia University. The gathering was a crucible of thought and action, addressing the urgent and complex issues of ‘Forest Conservation’ and ‘Climate Change’ through the lens of the Forest Rights Act of 2006. The event stood out for its interdisciplinary approach, attracting a mosaic of participants—community leaders, environmental activists, policymakers, journalists, academicians, and students — creating a melting pot of perspectives and expertise.

The event commenced with an informal setting, promoting equality and community harmony. Professor Ashwini Chhatre, opened the event, setting a tone of collaboration and shared learning. During the conclave, knowledge sharing sessions, discussions revolved around the empowerment that community forest titles bestowed upon local communities, particularly in terms of managing and commercially benefiting from forest resources. These discussions were not confined to Indian perspectives but also embraced perspectives from invitees representing countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Cameroon, and Brazil. The sessions also shed spotlight on women leadership within the Forest Rights Act framework. The Phoenix Talks featured a tapestry of human spirit and resilience, narrating stories of individuals who transcended societal and environmental challenges to emerge as catalysts of change. The Media Roundtable on Community Forest Rights was a critical element of the event, serving as a bridge between grassroots movements and broader public awareness. The roundtable highlighted the essential role of media in shaping public opinion and policy regarding forest rights and conservation.

The event was interspersed with a range of cultural activities that provided a glimpse into the combined heritage of global cultures and traditions. A Sufi music night and the “March of Diversity” were not just entertainment but symbolic representations of the unity and diversity inherent in the global fight for environmental conservation. The ‘Wish Tree’ installation, where participants shared their hopes and dreams, stood as a testament to the collective aspirations for a sustainable future.

Launch of India Data Portal 2.0: A Paradigm Shift in Data Accessibility, Visualisation and Analysis

Bharti Institute of Public Policy launched the India Data Portal 2.0, a state-of the-art platform re-engineered to revolutionise data accessibility, analysis, and visualisation. The new portal is the outcome of an ambitious endeavour that becomes a part of an open-source ecosystem to promote evidenced based policymaking in the country. The India Data Portal’s one of its kind "Visualisations First Approach" empowers users to seamlessly access an extensive array of over 3,400 indicators. These indicators are drawn from a vast repository of ever-growing 120 datasets, spanning across 25 diverse domains, including but not limited to Climate and Weather, Commerce, Crime, Economy, Education, Financial Inclusion, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Food and Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife, General, Government Schemes, Health, Nutrition, Rural Development, Socio Economic, Union Budget, and various others.

The India Data Portal 2.0 includes an innovative feature that allows users to upload their own datasets, ensuring privacy for their personal exploration and visualisation efforts. The portal has undergone significant technological enhancements, featuring scalable, and easily maintainable architecture, complemented with a network of micro-services.

To compliment this launch, IDP hosted a panel discussion on the “Evolution of Open Data” and the panellists were Prerna Mukharya, Founder, Outline India, Rahul Bhandari (IAS), Rakesh Dubbudu, Founder and CEO, Factly, and Srinivas Kodali, Independent Researcher. The session was moderated by Professor Ashwini Chhatre.

The second residency of the Cohort 2023-24 of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy was held from 22nd -31st October 2023 at the Hyderabad campus of the Indian Business School.

The residency included the following guest sessions:

• A special session on ‘Breaking Barriers: Gender Inclusivity in Public Policy’. Guest speakers for this session were Tashi Choedup, founding member of Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti, and Queer Swabhimana Yatra and Shikha Goel, IPS, ADGP, Women Safety Wing, Telangana State Police.
• An Alumni Panel Discussion on “Public Policy and Governance” focussing on ‘Emerging Facets’. The panellists were Dr Abhishek Jain, Secretary (Home, Information Technology, Finance, Planning and Statistics, Labour, and Employment) and Secretary to CM, Government of Himachal Pradesh; Colonel Anurag Awasthi, Vice President, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association & Interim CEO of Electropreneur Park, Delhi, and Dr Pankaj Sharma, independent consultant to the government. • Neetu K, Leading Communication & Policy Advocacy in South Asia, Management Member- Inter IKEA Group presented a case study on IKEA and walked the participants through the remarkable journey of the global furniture giant.

T HUB Visit

The participants of the AMPPP Cohort 2023-24 visited the T-Hub, a renowned innovation hub and ecosystem facilitator located in Hyderabad as part of the residency. The participants engaged in discussions on T-Hub's management structure and the metrics of success regarding its endeavours in nurturing new ventures. During the visit, Srinivas Taluka, Vice-President of Facilities at T-Hub, provided an overview of the organisation's objectives and its dedication to bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and the academia.

A gala dinner reception was also organised for the participants of the cohort at the Hyderabad campus. The informal setting provided a platform for the AMPPP participants to engage with each other to foster meaningful connections and conversations outside the lecture theatres.

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