Role of Civil Society / NGOs+ in Rural Development

87th Foundation Course for Central Civil Services, IES, ISS, and IFS Officer

TraineesDr. MCR HRD Institute of AP

2nd November 2012

Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy, CEO, GEO http://e-geo.org

The Drivers of

Change ..

Civil Society"the arena, outside of the family, the state, and the market where people associate to advance common interests."

SPIRIT – KNOW - ACT

SPIRIT

KNOWACT

Don’t forget to

sweep the

corners

GOVERNMENT / PUBLIC

CONTRACTORS / PRIVATE

CSOs

In the HistoryDuring the second half of the 19th

century, nationalist consciousness spread across India and self-help emerged as the primary focus of sociopolitical movements.

Numerous organizations were established during this period, including the

Friend-in-Need Society (1858), Prathana Samaj (1864),

Satya Shodhan Samaj (1873), Arya Samaj (1875), the National Council for Women in India (1875), and

the Indian National Conference (1887).

Types of Organisationstrade unions, self-help groups, social

movements, business

associations, Coalitions

advocacy groups.

Indigenous people’s organizations,

Academeic

Registered charities,

development non-governmental organizations,

community groups, women's

organizations, faith-based,

religious and spiritual organizations,

professional associations, 

Defining Non-Governmental Organisations

One survey found 48 different terms and acronyms. Here is a sample:

BINGOs Big International NGOs BONGOs Business Organized NGOsCBOs Community Based OrganizationsCSOs Civil Society Organizations

ENGOs Environmental NGOsGONGOs Government Organized NGOsIPOs Indigenous Peoples

OrganizationsGROs Grassroots Organizations GSCOs Global Social Change

OrganizationsNPOs Nonprofit OrganizationsVOs Voluntary Organizations

In short, there is no agreed terminology for describing the NGO sector.

NGOs are not:Part of government,

Organized primarily for

private profit.

NGOsBy definition, it is an organization

that is not directly related to government. The World Health Organization first made the term NGO popular back in 1945.

There are more than 50,000 international INGO’s.

In the United States there are over 2 million NGO’s

1-2 million in India. There is a marked increase in the numbers of NGO organizations worldwide.

NGOs / Voluntary ServiceThough the term NGO became popular in

India only in the 1980s, the voluntary sector has an older tradition.

Since independence from the British in 1947, the voluntary sector had a lot of respect in the minds of people - first, because the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi was an active participant; and second because India has always had the tradition of honouring those who have made some sacrifice to help others.

Voluntary Organizations - GandhijiIn independent India, the initial role

played by the voluntary organizations started by Gandhi and his disciples was to fill in the gaps left by the government in the development process. The volunteers organized handloom weavers in villages to form cooperatives through which they could market their products directly in the cities, and thus get a better price.

TraditionalTraditional development NGOs,

who went into a village or a group of villages and ran literacy programmes, crËches for children and clinics, encouraged farmers to experiment with new crops and livestock breeds that would bring more money, helped the weavers and other village artisans market their products and so on

Research / Advocacy / Legal The second group of NGOs were

those who researched a particular subject in depth, and then lobbied with the government or with industry or petitioned the courts for improvements in the lives of the citizens, as far as that particular subject was concerned.

Eg: CSE

ActivistsIn the third group were those volunteers who saw themselves more as activists than other NGOs did. They petitioned the bureaucrats, they alerted the media whenever they found something wrong and so on. Eg: NBA

NGOs, civil society, or major groups?“Major Groups” is a

term that was introduced in Agenda 21, agreed by governments at the Rio Earth Summit. It describes nine sectors of society identified as having a significant role in sustainable development:

◦ women ◦ children and youth◦ indigenous people◦NGOs◦ Local authorities◦ Workers and trade

unions◦ business and

industry◦ the scientific and

technical community◦ farmers

Stakeholders: Yet another term!Stakeholders:Those who have an interest in a particular decision, either as individuals or representatives of a group. This includes people who influence a decision, or can influence it, as well as those affected by it.

Less pressure from change in politics

Small scale projects◦More community involvement◦Can be individually tailored to meet

specific community needs◦Higher “success” rate◦Less bureaucratic

A more “human” face

Advantages of NGOs

Disadvantages of NGOs Constant funding difficulties Possible lack of legitimacy Difficult to regulate

◦ Can lack transparency and accountability

Can be ineffective due to lack of coordination

Development OrganizationInter-relationship

NGOs

Government Agency

Institutions /

Financial Institution

s

Specific

Project / Issue

NGOs in Intergovernmental Processes

4 important functions:Setting agendasNegotiating outcomesConferring legitimacyImplementing solutions

NGOs in IndiaThe PRIA survey reveals that 26.5% of NGOs are engaged in

religious activities21.3% work in the area of

community and/or social service. About one in five NGOs works in

education7.9% are active in the fields of

sports and culture. 6.6% work in the health sector.

NGOs are also the source and centre of social justice to the marginalised members of society in developing countries or failed states. 

@ CSE

With the retreat of the state and the growing power of corporations,  NGOs are shifting their attention away from governments and towards big business…

@ CSE

Role of NGOs in UNCBD Alliance, MOP6 / COP11,

CBD 2012◦Setting agendas◦Negotiating outcomes (by proposing

alternative language and solutions)◦Conferring legitimacy ◦Implementing solutions◦Sometimes, a choice has to be made

about working ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ official processes. Both have pro’s and con’s, and the decision needs to be taken carefully.

“Look to the Future. Accept the Challenges. Society fails if the citizen is not engaged.“Setting an agenda for change is not a burden. It’s a responsibility. And an opportunity to change for good”

Thank You…Ref: http://www..............