Unit : 02

Module 09 : Role of NGO’s in national development

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

 Trace the formation of NGOs over the years
 Learn about how NGOs are established
 Learn about the role and activities of NGOs for national development

What is an NGO?

Nongovernmental organisations, or NGOs, are a broad category of organisations

that encompass a range of groups such as ‘private voluntary organisations’, ‘civil society
organisations’ and ‘nonprofit organisations’.
NGOs were originally referred to as such in Article 71 of the 1945 Charter of the
newly established United Nations. NGOs are organisations that are completely or largely
independent of the government and are generally not commercial in nature, according to
the World Bank Operational Manual, 1989. In the interest of the general public, an NGO
is a group of people who offer their services towards the accomplishment of the society's
broader aim. It is a nonprofit endeavor for enhancing the wellbeing of residents and is not
controlled by any governmental authority.
NGOs assess the needs of people and operate as a liaison between society and
the government. As they seek aid not just in the financial sector but also in the large
sphere of economic, social, and political structure, they do command respect on a global
scale. NGOs engage in a variety of activities, such as human rights, social, and
environmental activism. On a large or small scale, they can seek to advance social or
political change. NGOs are essential to the growth of society, the enhancement of
communities, and the encouragement of citizen participation. Since NGO's are registered
under the Societies Registration Act, a central law for registering Not-for-Profit
organisations, their operations are presumed to have legal standing.

History of NGO

Around the Globe

The United Nations coined the phrase "Non-governmental Organisation" towards
the end of World War II, popularizing the idea ever since.

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 However, the roots go far deeper because, even before World War II,
organisations like Sufi Tariqahs, Catholic Orders, and other similar religious and scientific
organisations were working on a global scale for the welfare of citizens. Friends of Truth
was founded in France during the 18th century to work towards more "universal goals,"
and it had affiliates all around Europe. The Royal Jennerian Society was established in
order to combat and ultimately eradicate smallpox. Looking at the 19th century's events,
it is clear that numerous anti-slavery organisations were attempting to implement relief
measures.
Tracing the origin of NGOs in India
India is a religious country. In earlier days people were seen to help others in need
and felt they will be rewarded in later years for their deeds by God. Good deeds lead to
noble outcomes and aid in creating a community that is encouraging.
Beginning in the 18th and 19th centuries, as individuals started to become more
organized and wanted to work in a systematic way, they formed societies that provided
free assistance to the afflicted. Charity is about love, not pity, as Mother Teresa so
eloquently put it. NGOs banded together to end the pervasive Sati system, which was in
place at the time. They also fought to end casteism, untouchability, and other social ills
including child marriage.
By the 20th century, many people had begun joining themselves with Gandhian-
inspired NGOs like "Servant of India.“ Later, NGOs were included in India's five-year plans
and worked to eradicate illiteracy and combat deadly diseases for the rural poor and
downtrodden. International regulatory organisations like WHO, UNICEF, UNO, and
others started gaining momentum in emerging nations like India and they fervently worked
by raising awareness of various matters of global concern.
According to statistics, there are currently about 40 lakh NGOs active in India.
These NGOs work at different levels and in different fields. The non-governmental
organisations' main concerns are areas like sanitation, education, health care, and
nutrition. To end poverty, provide high-quality education, and effect positive change in the
nation are the goals and objectives of NGOs. NGOs might be thought of as good
Samaritans who work selflessly to further a socially beneficial cause.
NGOs are non- profit organisations and the big question here is how do the NGOs
get fundings? NGOs offer business and citizen membership options; as a result, they
receive money from membership fees, corporate donations, private funds, and
occasionally government subsidies.

Establishment of NGOs

In general, an NGO is an association of people, and it can be established in one

of three ways, namely:

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 i. registration under the Societies Registration Act, 1860;
ii. registration under the Indian Trust Act, Organisations 1882; or
iii. registration with the Registration of Companies, under section 25 of the
Companies Act, 1956.
i. Creation of an NGO as a Trust
Establishing an NGO as a Trust is the quickest and most straightforward way to
get started with philanthropic and humanitarian activity for the greater good, free from fear
of reprisal or favor and without any direct or indirect financial gain. In accordance with the
goals and regulations outlined in the trust deed, it is a legal entity where the trustees
operate. The trust deed's contents must include the name of the trust, its address, the
settler, the trustees, the beneficiaries, the trust's goals, how trustees will be appointed
and removed, and any other conditions that the settler may want to impose.
ii. Creation of an NGO under Societies Registration Act, 1860
As was previously noted, for an organisation of people to properly act as an NGO,
it must be well-organized and have the status of a legal body. The most popular way to
start an NGO is by registering it under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. In addition
to advancing literature, science, or the beautiful arts, such societies are founded to
advance humanitarian goals. To broaden the scope of societies or to give them broader
meaning, certain governments have made modest adjustments to the aforementioned
Act. Any seven or more individuals who are associated for any literary, scientific,
charitable, or other purpose that is listed in Section 20 of this Act may formally establish
themselves as societies under this Act by signing a memorandum of association and
submitting it to the Registrar of Societies.
iii. Incorporation as a non-profit company: Section 25(1) of Company
Regulations, 1956:
Due of its cost and inconvenience, this option is the least used. At least 2 members
are needed for a private firm, while at least 7 members are needed for a public purpose.

Types of NGOs

The types of NGOs are given in Figure 1. They are classified based on
A. Orientation
B. Cooperation
C. Activities

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 Figure 1 Types of NGOs

A. Based of orientation
The types of NGOs are classified based on orientation (Figure 2) as follows:
i. Charitable orientation
ii. Service orientation
iii. Participatory orientation
iv. Empowering orientation

Figure 2 Types based of orientation

i. Charitable Orientation
This group includes NGOs, which work in an authoritarian capacity and hold all the
power while the beneficiary party is minimally or completely excluded from their activities.
NGOs that participated in campaigns largely focused on supplying the communities of

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lower income groups with the things they needed, such as clothing, medicine, food
distribution drives, housing facilities, schools, transportation, etc. During natural disasters
and emergencies, these NGOs are active. By giving impacted families what they need,
they play a crucial role.
ii. Service Orientation
The NGOs also work with other parties to provide services. Service-Orientedness
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) include those NGOs that actively work towards
the aim and target the specific services and goals in their mission and advocate for the
impoverished section of society in the areas of education, health, and family planning.
They target the particular services and objectives in their purpose and actively work
toward the goal.
iii. Participatory Orientation
In these NGOs, a participatory approach is used, which is exemplified by self-help
plans and missions in which local communities take an active part in project organizing.
They plan, run everything independently, and amass donations of cash, land, equipment,
labor, and other resources. In the conventional public development project, involvement
begins with the satisfaction of requirements and continues through the planning and
implementation phases. Participatory coordination is a standard practice in cooperatives.
iv. Empowering Orientation
This category includes NGOs, having a focus on Empowering Orientation. They
have a mission to harden their consciousness to strengthen their potential to obtain equal
rights. Their goal is to provide assistance to the underprivileged group and foster
understanding of the social, political, and economic elements influencing their life.

B. Based on the level of operation

The types of NGOs are classified based on orientation (Figure 3) as follows:
i. Community
ii. City
iii. National
iv. International

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 Figure 3 Types based on the level of operation

i. Community-based Non- Governmental Organisations (CBOs)

Community-based NGOs are NGOs that focus on particular communities. They
strive to raise their standards in society by working for small ranges and small groupings.
They represent people's own initiatives at work. They frequently participate in women's
organisations, sports teams, academic clubs, neighborhood associations, local regional
communities, and many more organisations. They made a commitment to raising
awareness among the poor so that they would better grasp their rights to basic services
and social status.
ii. Citywide Non-Governmental Organisations
These non-governmental organisations, which include organisations like the
Rotary or Lion's Club, corporate alliances, coalitions of community organisations, and
cultural or educational organisations, are engaged at the local level.
iii. National level Non-Governmental Organisations
These kinds of organisations are active on a national scale, have a sizable
volunteer force, and pursue national interests. NGOs in this category include the Red
Cross, business associations, YMCAs/YWCAs, etc. They also have state and duty
branches and provide services to NGOs operating at the local level.
iv. International Non-Governmental Organisations
This category includes non-governmental groups that plan their actions on an
international scale. The efforts of NGOs range from sponsoring local NGOs, programs, &
agencies for organizing the project to embracing secular foundations such as Redda B
Arana, Save the Children agencies, Care, Oxfam, Ford & Rockefeller Foundations to
promote awareness among the population conscientiously.

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C. Based on activities
The types of NGOs are classified based on activities (Figure 4) as follows:
i. Operational
ii. Advocacy
iii. Campaign

Figure 4 Types based on activities

i. Operational NGO: are those that concentrate on developing and carrying out
development programs.
ii. Advocacy NGO: NGO advocacy groups that defend or advance a certain cause
and work to change public policy.
iii. Campaign NGO: NGOs' marketing is crucial in convincing people that exactly their
cause is the one on which they should spend their time and money.

Activities undertaken by NGOs

The activities undertaken by NGOs are

i. Greening the Supply of Products and Services
ii. Forming extensive networks of different stakeholders
iii. Assessing Environmental Impacts of Products
iv. Monitoring and Evaluation
v. Advocacy and Raising Awareness
vi. Brokerage
vii. Conflict Resolution
i. Greening the Supply of Products and Services
NGOs are creating or producing goods that will lessen the negative effects of
consumerism on the environment. Simply providing the consumer with a more
environmentally friendly consumption option is considered empowering. For instance, the

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WWF is working with the retail industry to provide more sustainable food items.
Additionally, it collaborates with the catering industry to create a permanent WWF dish
and WWF Weeks for the menu.
ii. Forming extensive networks of different stakeholders
NGOs collaborate with businesses and other NGOs to raise awareness of
problems and collectively seek solutions. For instance, in Japan, the Green Purchasing
Network (GPN) encourages green purchasing among consumers, companies, and other
governmental agencies.
iii. Assessing Environmental Impacts of Products
NGOs rate goods and services according to how they perform and affect the
environment. The objective is for customers to then select the goods or brands they wish
to buy. For instance, numerous consumer organisations, including those in Austria,
Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands, have incorporated a commitment to
sustainability into their mission statements. Consumers can access these organisations'
product evaluations through magazines, websites, and other publications.
iv. Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring is the process of measuring, documenting, gathering, and analyzing
data on how the program is actually being implemented in order to spot any deviations
from the anticipated operations. Both internal and external monitoring is possible.
The monitoring process consist of the following:
• Detecting deviations from the plans.
• Diagnosing causes for deviations.
• Taking corrective action.
NGO acts as a ‘watchdog’ or independent ‘auditor ‘of government and corporate
performance and accountability. Evaluation is a constant activity with the goal of
improving and correcting actions to make them more pertinent and efficient. This includes
several facets of program execution, including its relevance, conceptualization, efficiency
and effectiveness, expenses, and level of community acceptance.
The process of evaluation should cover the following points:
• Ensuring Information Support
• Verify Relevance
• Assess Adequacy
• Review Progress
• Assess Efficiency
• Assess Effectiveness
• Assess Impact

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v. Advocacy and Raising Awareness
Every person's voice is represented through NGOs. Undertaking research,
analysis, educating the public about pressing issues, and coordinating citizen action
through media campaigns and other forms of activism.
vi. Brokerage
NGO acts as an agent between various sectors and groups.
vii. Conflict Resolution
NGO works as a mediator and facilitator in solving resolution

Role of NGOs in national development

The various functions of NGOs include

• Human rights and child rights
• Poverty eradication
• Animal Rights
• Prevent Social Injustice
• Conservation of Environment
• Aged people care routine
• Empowerment of women
• Disease Control and others
• Health and Nutrition plans
• Conservation of Wildlife
• Hygiene and Sanitation conditions
• Humanitarian Relief
• Education plans and literacy
• Refugee Crisis .. and several more

i. NGOs responsibility towards sustainability

No one is sacrificing their immediate needs or destroying natural resources to
further their own selfish interests, this area requires the most attention. As a result, NGOs
are monitoring everything and developing control mechanisms to stop overusing natural
resources, which leads to environmental dangers that later result in health issues and
natural disasters. Many NGOs are devoted to the purpose of educating the public about
sustainable development. Local empowerment and the promotion of ethical business
practices brought about by sustainable development eventually also result in economic
growth. NGOs like the Vasudha Foundation, BSS India, and Abhinav are working to
spread the understanding of resource mobilization.

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ii. Healthcare
Any country's development must take healthcare into consideration. Numerous
NGOs are working all year round in India to transform the healthcare system for older
people who are impoverished. Health care NGOs like HelpAge India, Smile Foundation,
and Rural Healthcare Foundation have been working diligently to create an organized
healthcare system for the underprivileged.
iii. Education
Numerous NGOs are working in India to revitalize and educate youngsters
because the younger generation today will determine the destiny of the nation. In addition
to giving them an education, they prevent hundreds of children from getting caught up in
the vicious cycle of child labor. Throughout the year, NGOs like Teach For India (TFI),
Pratham, and Make A Difference (MAD), Bhumi, work diligently. These NGOs also hold
parent-focused workshops where they discuss the value of education and encourage
parents to enroll their children in school.
iv. Building Community Participation
The non-profit organisation offers an alternative viewpoint that is capable of
engaging in meaningful conversation with underserved areas.
Numerous NGOs are attempting to preserve and promote India's rich cultural
diversity. They have several groups participating from all around the world to further the
goals of the NGO.
v. Women Empowerment
The accomplishment of key NGO tasks has advanced significantly in the fight for
women's empowerment. A few examples include educating women, lessening the rate of
female feticide, providing employment to women, and combating sati, dowry, cruelty, and
other social ills. They are still making every effort to abolish gender discrimination.
Numerous organisations, including Sewa, the Agrani Foundation, Eklavya, and the
Environmental Action Group, among others, are working for these causes. In addition,
NGOs actively contribute to the eradication of terrible diseases like the "polio eradication
effort." Malnutrition, amnesia, and bettering medical facilities are all objectives. Even
those with AIDS and HIV are given assistance so they won't be shunned by society and
can live regular lives.

Summary

In this module we have

• Traced the formation of NGOs over the years
• Learnt about how NGOs are established
• Learnt about the role and activities of NGOs for national development

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