The Ministry of Panchayati Raj took cognisance of IIDS research on problems of the excluded groups in accessing public services and rural governance to make policy suggestions for non-discriminatory delivery of services in Panchayat Raj Institutions.
In addition to the above, the institute has provided policy inputs to Post-MDG 2015 discussion. The publication of the findings of the IIDS research on “Discrimination of Dalits and Muslims in Urban Housing Market” in 2015 generated a lot of debate at various levels, drawing attention of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This also led to filing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court demanding to frame law against discrimination in urban rental market. The Government of India passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill in Dec 2015. Sharing of IIDS’ research findings from a series of research studies on caste-based atrocities with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and further knowledge support to civil society organizations over last few years at various national consultations organized under the umbrella of ‘Nation Confederation on the Amendments Bill’, in which IIDS is a member, had partly contributed towards this Bill.