Examine the problem areas in policy evaluation.

Problems In Policy Evaluation: There are number of problems, challenges and dilemmas in the process of policy evaluation and is neglected field. Many authors have worked to study the problems in policy evaluation. Some are as follows:

(i) Goal Specification: The goals are vaguely defined, and the evaluation is linked with goal identification. Problems like policy specifies not spell out and are not provided with adequate budgetary support. Another problem is the diversion of funds or non-release of funds. Even if the goals are clearly expressed, they might not be practical and are only intended to serve the purpose of propaganda and political mobilization.

(ii) Measurement: Measurement of the results or the outputs is a difficult exercise as the absence of any ready means of judgement of values limits the efficiency and effectiveness of the government. The time span is another problem in measurement. Another problem in the measurement is the problem of administrative organization, skill and competence of the personnel. Another reason is the temptation to inflate or cook update that tends to defeat the very purpose of objective measurement.

(iii) Targets: The achievement of target leads to the fulfillment of goals and the most important is to know not only what you intend to do but also to whom you intend to do it. In India, a number of schemes have been developed for rural areas, women and child welfare, poverty alleviation, housing, etc. but all the schemes have not made much impact on the target group. When an evaluation is made on such policies, in indicates the fulfillment of targets. Some other groups gets benefited from these programmes and the programmes indicate a false success which is misleading.

(iv) Efficiency and Effectiveness: It is difficult to assign the cost to a particular result and similarly it is difficult to measure effectiveness and also to evaluate efficiency as it is linked with the fulfillment of legal requirements. It is the efficiency which s projected and measured rather than the services produced.

(v) Values and Evaluation: The policy evaluators differ from each other in values and perceptions which makes the evaluation of the programme difficult. The value system of individual evaluator leaves an effect over the final evaluation of outcomes. Also the organizations who guides the individual have their own collective values to guide them in evaluating outcomes. Apart from these problems, the analysts also have a number of other common problems.

(vi) Information and Data: The evaluation process requires an accurate, comprehensive and comparable data which is not an easy task as it requires a lot of time, skill, energy, resources, etc. it becomes difficult for the evaluation agencies to extract accurate information due to the problems like non-availability of records or data which in turn act as a constraint to the process of policy evaluation.

(vii) Methodological Problems: Some problems in evaluation of policies occur due to the techniques and the methods used for the process. Then comes the role of policy analysts or agencies who play a crucial role by utilizing their skills and capabilities. But apart from this, the methodology used and the accuracy achieved is always a doubtful area.

(viii) Problem of Resources: Shortages of resources like human, financial and infrastructural is another problematic area in the evaluation process. The investment in the resources is on haphazard basis and is not clear within the government or within the universities and the research institutions in India.

(ix) The Optimizing Dilemma: The process of policy optimization requires the achievement or optimization or maximization of the policy goal under all the conditions, but the society such emphasized more on the predictive findings and on the relationship between the policies and goals.

(x) The Unforeseen Consequences Dilemma: While evaluating the policies, the evaluator faces some unforeseen consequences in which they go by the data and the methodology adopted. In such cases the evaluation reports do not reflect realities because of the absence of contingency models.

(xi) The Equity Dilemma: The policy evaluators do not reach a solution that is both efficient and equitable in the process of evaluation. The Equity Dilemma is related to the frequent conflicts in policy evaluation between policy goals of equity and efficiency.

(xii) The Partisan Dilemma: Another problem in the process of evaluation is the Partisan approach. The government employees who are involved in the process of evaluation concentrate more on what their political masters want rather then doing their job impartially. In countries like India, the ‘Yes Minister’ syndrome is the one that rules the roost.

We have studied above some of the common problems that occur in the process of policy evaluation which varies from country to country and is dependent upon the political system, the party system, media, economic development, availability of resources, etc. the factors that are required to make the policy evaluation effective includes:

■ Political will

■ Support of administrative agencies

■ Involvement of universities

■ Research organizations

■ Adequate resources availability

■ Training to evaluation personnel

■ Efficient and effective information system

■ Access to communication technologies

■ Coordination and sincere efforts, etc.

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