Som Mittal

India’s Expanding Public Policy Space: A Quiet Revolution in the Making Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a quiet but unmistakable shift—public policy is no longer a niche pursuit in India. It’s becoming a movement. What used to be a domain dominated by bureaucrats and academics is now increasingly shaped by a diverse and dynamic ecosystem: — Public policy schools are sprouting across the country. — Institutions like IITs and IIMs now offer policy programmes. — Nonprofits and think tanks are driving high-quality research, field studies, and advocacy. — Ministries and government agencies are engaging young consultants and domain experts from the private sector on everything from digital governance to climate resilience. It’s not just the demand that’s growing. The supply of passionate, well-trained professionals—many with interdisciplinary backgrounds—is equally heartening. While in the US or Europe, the field has had decades to mature, India is compressing that evolution into a single decade. That too, in the midst of rapid technological, economic, and political change. For someone like me, who entered government over a decade ago and is now working with the Sixteenth Finance Commission, this transformation feels both personal and profound. Public policy today is no longer just about laws and regulations—it’s about building better systems, using data wisely, collaborating across sectors, and keeping people at the centre of decision-making. To the many students and professionals reaching out, asking “How can I contribute to this space?”— My answer is: Now is the time. The ecosystem is still young enough for you to shape it, and mature enough to support you. The canvas is wide open. #PublicPolicy #Governance #India #PolicyProfessionals #StateCapacity #PolicyDesign #PolicyCareers #FutureOfIndia

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The “Waterman & Green Man ” of  Central India Avani Mohan Singh is a dedicated environmentalist and grassroots leader who founded the NGO Haritika in 1994. His mission: combat water scarcity in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh  Operating across 2500 villages, Haritika has implemented hundreds of water-related projects, reaching around 2000,000 people. Efforts include rainwater harvesting, construction of check dams, and revitalizing traditional water systems to restore water levels and promote agriculture  . A notable achievement: the Integrated Watershed Project in partnership with Coca-Cola India Foundation, ICRISAT, and local communities. In Parasai‑Sindh watershed, eight check dams created nearly 125,000 cubic meters of storage, lifting groundwater levels by 2–4 meters and boosting cropping intensity by 30–50%, with farmers achieving between 3,500–4,000 kg of wheat per hectare  With his efforts he has converted 45000 ha of land and through river basin  water conservation measures stored more than 200 billion liters of water He has led for nature based solution and planted around 50 lakh trees in around 7000 ha of land with the support of many donors like LTImindtree,Pernord Ricard India, Standard Chartered Bank,NABARD,VNV Bengluru Overall, his efforts have not only improved water availability but also catalyzed a transformation in livelihoods—expanding cultivable land, enabling farmer shifts to high‑value crops, and increasing yields significantly. Drinking water supply has reached 300 villages, and a 2,000-acre fruit orchard supports livelihoods in 2500 villages across UP , MP,Rajasthan and Maharastra 

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In this article, I reflect on the way forward for bridging the gap between urban and rural healthcare services. The opportunity lies in convergence. Rural health infrastructure must be complemented by digital literacy among frontline workers, geo-tagged ambulances for last-mile access, and rural health innovation labs to co-create solutions with academic institutions and startups. If executed with consistency and collaboration, India can create a connected health ecosystem where geography no longer dictates the quality of care. https://lnkd.in/gVZhbw-9

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Key Highlights from Prabowo’s Statement on Healthcare Funding ------------------------------------------------------ The 2026 healthcare budget is set at Rp 244 trillion, aimed at delivering equitable, quality health services to all Indonesians particularly the poor and vulnerable. The Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) program will be strengthened, with the state fully covering health insurance costs for 96.8 million low-income and vulnerable citizens. The budget will also prioritize: 1. Hospital revitalization and upgrading health facilities 2. Accelerating stunting reduction 3. Nutrition assistance for expectant mothers and young children 4. Control of communicable diseases, including TB mitigation 5. Free health check-up programs (Cek Kesehatan Gratis) The goal: to prevent disease escalation, thereby saving future healthcare costs and ensuring sustainability. #tb

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