No one exists in isolation, and State is the highest authority any and everywhere. The State is the government. The government is the executive. The executive is one of the three pillars of democracy who works in tandem with the legislature and judiciary. The opening lines convey the intention to acknowledge that no matter how well rounded and successful a business enterprise, it follows the rules and policies formulated by the government. Any company or sole proprietor, when it gives shape to a business idea needs to ensure compliance with the laws pertaining to set up, employment, labour, land, registration, company policies, social presence and other such legal approvals/sanctions as required by one. Maintaining government relations for an enterprise is an essential aspect of a company’s functioning module. It’s a game of quid pro quo since the rewards are reaped equally by all involved. In a developing economy like ours, it’s important to give impetus to the capitalist agendas while using the benefits reaped to fuel the socialist agenda. That is constituting of the CSR initiatives undertaken by companies. Government relations are a systematic effort on part of the company to modify policies to achieve specified benefits and protect particular agendas in public that reflect properly on the company and the law makers involved. Understanding and collaborating with the government to achieve policy objectives while tackling the functional environment establishes trust and transparency. There is also an accountability on both their parts to deliver the promised benefits for mutual sustenance. Working co-operation, synthesis between the passing of policies and their execution leads to liberalization of economy in cohesion with the party in power. For a PR Agency strategizing to systemize government interaction it must encourage and respect political liberty of its employees. They must offer their voluntary services to government officials, contemporary political agendas, and where exigencies require so. Stoic opposition is also important to maintain healthy dialogue, provides constructive criticism, while offering alternatives. Simpler and methodical ways to boost this aspect can be through informal or semi casual meetings, such as conferences, dinners etc. Lobbying: It’s a smart and effective way to lobby or further one’s cause to influence or positively shift the attention of the legislators or government officials. This can be done at local, state or central levels. Each operating govt. body has is an effective platform to further one’s cause. E.g. establishing a factory or a plant in remote rural areas would require the local municipal bodies to agree and further the cause. Most often it is looked down upon or is perceived as a mystery by laymen who attribute it to arm twisting also, at time. However, the essence of it is to protect consequences from an oversight, which a business concern is in a better position to predict and suffer. All in all, government relations of a company denotes that when it comes to fiscal policies the company becomes a participant rather than a spectator. It is inevitable that the government which runs on the will and want of the people will ignore the needs of the company that only supports the economy, but provides employment to a majority section of it, while also financing the political agendas and motives of the same.
