ROLE OF NGOS IN A COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION
A Non-Governmental Organisation is any association, non-profit oriented in nature which volunteers its service in the interest of the general public for the furtherance of the greater good of the society. It often has a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social cause organised around some specific issues, such as education, social welfare, environmental conservation, social welfare, rural development in the areas of sanitation and healthcare, usually on a local, national or international level.[1] As the name suggests, they are independent of the government and operate outside it; in a way they can be referred to as private organisations, the only difference being their interest in humanitarianism and cooperation, instead of pursuing commercial objectives.[2] This further means that they are value-based organizations that depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service.[3.]
2. HOW DID NGO’S COME UP ABOUT?
The term “Non-Governmental Organisation” was coined in the mid-1940s, around the same time as the founding of the United Nations in 1945;[4] consequently, its current prominence can be attributed to the supranational body's (the UN) popularization of the concept back then. However, it is important to realize that these organizations existed long before they were associated with the term.
2.1 History of the emergence of NGO’s around the World
As discussed, the historical roots of non-governmental organisations working and engaging at the global level for the betterment of citizens go back much further than the onset of the World War II; entities such as the Sufi Tariqahs, Catholic Orders, and various other religious and scientific societies including 13th century Chinese affiliates played pivotal roles in these early endeavours.[5]
Fast forward to the 18th century, an instance of the global level engagement of these groups can be observed in the establishment of the ‘Friends of Truth’, which worked towards some universal goals in France and had affiliates all around Europe; the Royal Jennerian Society which was created to fight smallpox, eradicate it as well as discuss and discover new ways of vaccination, and in turn playing a pivotal role in the advancement of medical knowledge and public health practices.[6]
The 19th century was characterised by the emergence of various anti-slavery groups, actively working towards abolition of slavery. One such example was how in 1833, sixty abolitionist leaders from ten states of the USA met in Philadelphia to create a nationwide organisation for immediate emancipation of all slave.[7] This century also saw the establishment of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), which although started as a society for spiritual and physical welfare of young men in Britain, soon went on to evolve in a global organisation addressing a wide range of health related social issues.[8]
Consequently, it was the efforts of such early organisations that made the formalisation of the concept of non-governmental organisation; it was due to their efforts that contemporary organisations working on the same values have a definite structure and framework to work with, for the acceleration of their boarder goals and objectives.
3. ROLE OF NGO’S IN A COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT
The State Government often actively channel substantial financial assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to fortify their pivotal role in the multifaceted development process.[9] This assistance is usually strategically directed by alienating some key industries, the development of which is vital. One such area is education, with a focus on both elementary and secondary education. Additionally, it should be noted, that vocational training is also included in its purview; initiatives are specifically designed to target adolescent girls and women from low-income families, with the goal of equipping them with employable skills.[10]
Healthcare also assumes another key focus area whose development is of much importance to the health of a nation. Governments frequently engage in the establishment of initiatives such as the Reproductive and Child Health Programme and a more comprehensive National Health Programme; and efforts to carry this out are often spearheaded by the diverse NGOs operating at the state and federal levels.[11] These organizations collaborate at different levels to bring about awareness as well as address crucial denominations of public health like the health of the mother and child, proper sanitation, providence of clean drinking water, etc. Furthermore, animal care, which is often considered under the ambit of healthcare underlines a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human and animal welfare.
There also exist various other areas of focus such as environmental improvement in urban slums, betterment of which is needed for the strive towards sustainable and liveable urban spaces. Additionally, when dealing with the improvement of the neglected sections of society, NGOs attempt to achieve their objectives by fostering the concept of collaborative efforts; in addition to financial help, they urge active community participation at all stages of the improvement process, ensuring the sustenance of such humanitarian projects.[12]
3.1 Tracing the importance of NGOs in the context of India
In India, since the era of independence, there have been many instances where NGOs have played a pivotal role in the development of the country. A good instance is the implementation of the Five Year Plans (FYP) under the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’.[13]
The creation of "self-reliant communities" in rural areas was stressed in the 7th Five Year Plan (1985-1990). NGOs took up this challenge by assisting communities in becoming more self-sufficient through programs like community infrastructure development, vocational training, and the promotion of self-help groups. The 8th FYP (1992-1997) on the other hand, was a concentrated initiative to establish a nationwide network of NGOs working towards this rural development (mentioned in the 7th FYP)[14]; this aimed to foster a collaborative effort on the part of various organizations working towards that specific goal to share their knowledge and ideas, pooling their expertise to accelerate the pace of development. The 9th and 10th FYPs additionally further enabled the NGOs to take larger approaches where they could now contribute to rural areas beyond just community development. Some of these approaches taken by NGOs include,[15]
I) financial aid and loans given to farmers directly rather than through government agencies
II) training provided to agriculturists on modern agriculture techniques like modern irrigation techniques, crop and soil management, etc. – owing to which farmers were able to increase the productivity of the land as well as their incomes
III) promotion of non-agricultural ways of livelihood like craft and textile, small home-based industries, etc., so as to diversify the income sources in rural areas
III) collaborating with the various government agencies, private sector and the general community to further amplify the developmental initiatives
In contemporary times, some of these NGOs are now renowned nationwide, underlining their persistent efforts for the benefit of society, so much so that people automatically recognize their value and commitment to society. One such example is Child Rights and You, better known as CRY; it is a renowned NGO with the interest area being the betterment of children all across the country. To date, it has helped impact the lives of more than thirteen lakh children – with 89% of children in CRY project areas, under the age of 5 years, protected from undernourishment; 99% of adolescent girls, in CRY project areas, between 11-18 years, protected from child marriage and around 95% of children, in CRY project areas, between the ages of 6-18 years, protected from child labour.[16]
Similar to CRY, there are other NGOs that look after the betterment of women and the girl child, children born in poor families, disabled persons, etc., the existence of which are integral to the health of the nation.
Another achievement in this arena would be also how NGOs often collaborate and help the government formulate and implement various important laws and policies like MNREGA (in rural areas), Right to Information, Juvenile Justice, etc.
CONCLUSION
NGOs are, as discussed in the article, integral to the developmental process of nation because they help bridge the gap between the government and the general public they govern. Often the broader schemes and policies of the government have no effect on the lives of some sections of the people owing to the of the lack of awareness and knowledge on them, in such cases, it is NGOs that ensure that affects of such policies reach even the most remotest of places in the nation. Not only that, but they also intervene in issues where governmental efforts are just not enough to tackle the situation at hand. All in all, they are often the frontrunners of positive change in society.
REFERENCES
1. Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Indian Economy, India, available at: https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2010488.pdf (last visited on December 22, 2023).
2. What is an NGO? What role does it play in civil society?, India, available at: https://learning.candid.org/resources/knowledge-base/ngo-definition-and-role/ (last visited on December 22, 2023).
3. NGOs, the UN and APA, India, available at: https://www.apa.org/international/united-nations/publications#:~:text=Non%2DGovernmental%20Organizations%20(NGOs)&text=Traditionally%2C%20NGOs%20are%20value%2Dbased,The%20United%20Nations%20(U.N) (last visited on December 22, 2023).
4. nongovernmental organization, India, available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/nongovernmental-organization (last visited on December 22, 2023).
5. Role of NGOs in a Country's Development, India, available at: https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-6102-role-of-ngos-in-a-country-s-development.html (last visited on December 22, 2023).
6. Ibid.
7. The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship, India, available at: https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african-american-odyssey/abolition.html (last visited on December 22, 2023).
8. Our History - A Brief History of the YMCA Movement, India, available at: http://www.mfldymca.org/about_us/history_national.php (last visited on December 22, 2023).
9. ROLE OF NGOS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, India, available at: https://pbplanning.punjab.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/ROLEONGOSINDEVELOPMENPROCESS.pdf (last visited on December 22, 2023).
10. Ibid.
11. Supra note 9.
12. Supra note 9.
13. Supra note 5.
14. Supra note 5.
15. Supra note 5.
16. This is the impact YOU helped us achieve in 2022-23, India, available at: https://www.cry.org/ (last visited on December 22, 2023).
