Democratic Politics

(i) Sectional interest groups and public interest groups :
(a) Sectional Interect Groups : Usually interest groups seek to promote the interest of a particular section of groups of society. Trade unions, business associations and professional (lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc.) bodies are some examples of this type. They are sectional because they represent a section of society : workers, employees, business persons, industrialists, followers of a religion, case group, etc. Their principal concern is the betterment and well being of their members, not society in general.
Sometimes these organisations are not about representing the interest of one sections of society. They represent some common as general interest that needs to be defiended. The members of the organisation may not benefit from the cause that the organisation represents. The Bolivian organisation FEDECOR is an example of that kind of an organisation. In the context of Nepal we noted the participation of human rights organisation.
(b) Public Interest Groups : These second type of groups are called promotional groups or public interest groups. They promote collective rather than selective good. They aim to help groups other than their own members. For example a group fighting against bonded labour fight not for themselves but for those who are suffering under such bondage. In some instances the members of a public interest group may under take activity that benefits them as well as others too. For example, BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employees Federation) is an organisation largely of government employees that campaigns against caste discrimination. It addresses the problems of its members who suffer discrimination. But its principal concern is with social justice and social equality for the entire society.