Abstract

Background: Decision making requires a rigorous process of evaluation, which is an analytical and organized process to figure out the present positive influences, favourable future prospects, existing shortcomings and ulterior complexities of any plan, program, practice or a polity. Evaluation of policy is an essential and vital process required to measure the performance or progression of the scheme. The main purpose of policy evaluation is to empower various stakeholders and enhance their socio-economic environment. A large number of policies or schemes in different areas are launched/constituted by government in view of the citizen welfare. Although, the governmental policies intend to better shape up the quality of life of people but may also impact their everyday's life.

Objective: The contemplation of public opinion plays a very significant role in the process of policy evaluation. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to incorporate the concept of opinion mining in policy evaluation. An attempt has been made to elevate the process of policy evaluation by analyzing public opinion.

Methods: A latest governmental scheme Saubhagya launched by the Indian government in 2017 has been selected for evaluation by applying supervised learning based opinion mining techniques. The data set of public opinion associated with this scheme has been captured by Twitter.

Results: The result validates that the proposed methodology supports the optimizing process of policy evaluation and provides a more accurate and actual status of policy's effect among Indian citizen. As a result, this would aid in identifying and implementing the preventive and corrective measures required to be taken for a successful policy.

Conclusion: The proposed methodology will stabilize and strengthen the process of policy evaluation which target towards favourable and flourishing future prospects concerning the socio-economic status of a nation. The results are quite exciting and further extension of work will be performed in order to develop and design a patent framework in the area of social big data analytics.

Keywords: Decision making, policy evaluation, scheme, big data, opinion mining, twitter.

Graphical Abstract