What is lobbying?

Lobbying
It is a highly controversial phenomenon, often seen in a negative light, and frequently misunderstood. Lobbying happens at every level of government including federal, state, country, municipal and even local governments. Since government makes rules in a complex economy, it is logical that various organizations, businesses, individuals, nonprofits, trade groups, religions, charities and others- that are affected by these rulesexert as much influence as they can to have rulings favorable to their cause.

 Lobbying is an intrinsic part of Public Affairs strategy through which to tactically manage a clients universe. Its important to create consistently favorable conditions through well-thought out overall strategy instead of using lobbying in isolation, only as an emergency or situation-specific tool with which to kill or promote government policy or to sway public opinion. I have also found that when a Public Affairs strategy is designed to be on going rather than situational, the credibility factor of such an activity rises. - Dilip Cherian

However, the term lobbying is generally used in public sphere to describe a paid activity with the purpose of attempting to influence a public official, including bureaucrats as well as elected officials, towards a desired specific action often related to specific legislation.

The practice of lobbying can be defined as the influence of public decision making by a private interest group, resulting from the economic or societal. As a process, lobbying includes necessarily the day before, strategic analysis and influence at different levels(institutional relations, public relations, press relations, etc..). This means that lobbying, incorporates an upstream phase of economic intelligence, and, as a strategy of influence, a comprehensive communication incoporant public affairs.
-Collaborative portal on Economic Intelligence and Lobbying

Lobbyist.
A lobbyist is a professional, often a lawyer. Lobbyists are intermediaries between client organizations and lawmakers: they explain to legislators what their organizations want, and they explain to their clients what obstacles elected officials face.

Lobbying in India..
Federation of India Chambers of Commerce & industry (FICCI). Confederation of Indian industry (CII). Punjab, Haryana, Delhi Chamber of Commerce are basically lobbying groups in India.

Lobbying in India

In India, corporate lobbying, in the form of intensive briefings and presentations to ministers and civil servants, is expanding; the current political climate also makes ministers, officials, and legislators more receptive to it. Critics say that what is called lobbying in the west is called corruption in developing countries. There is no doubt that lobbying will continue to pose serious threat to democratic processes around the world.

Lobbying in India

Integral PR, Perfect Relations and Genesis PR, started as straightforward PR firms, but have diversified into corporate advocacy and lobbying.

Nira Radias Vaishnavi communications and Noesis, Suhel Sheths Counselage and Deepak Talwars DTA associates were launched with corporate lobbying as their core business.

Lobbying in India

Unlike advertising agencies, which offer certain services to whoever is willing to pay, lobbying companies are intimately allied in what may be called political ways with specific business groups. Since they have access to business secrets, including knowledge of malpractices, their loyalty to individual industry magnates is all-important. There are individual entrepreneur-lobbyists like Amar Singh and N K singh who work for different clients.

Lobbying in India

Earlier the bureaucrat had to be influenced and induced to open up a partially-closed system. Now, the bureaucrat is an already-willing ally of big business. The contest is over who will secure the favor first to keep the rival out. Lobbying is also about recruiting as many retired top-ranking public servants as possible so that they can influence their former colleagues and juniors on their clients behalf. The new generation lobbyists have strong global connections.

Benefits of Lobbying..
Protect an organization. Assistance in identifying new opportunities. Help to build support.

Raise a profile. a. Formulation of policies.

Types of lobbying
Bill Lobbying Profile raising lobbying Reactive lobbying

How to Lobby?
Understand the political environment. a. Intense monitoring Understand your environment. Whereabouts in the system is the policy. The outcome. The approach. Your allies Contact programs Media Aftermath.