Every year on the 27th of February, the World NGO day is observed globally. The day is dedicated to celebrating the invaluable contributions made by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), with India housing over three million of such establishments. These NGOs serve a range of fields and act as facilitators, catalysts, or partners in sparking social change.
The IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum’s 12-member countries officially recognized World NGO Day on 17th April 2010. It was later enshrined in the forum’s Final Statement Resolution in 2012. Despite its official recognition in 2010, the United Nations only started observing the day four years later in 2014. Marcis Liors Skadmanis, a UK-based social entrepreneur, initiated the first World NGO Day, aiming to raise awareness about the extraordinary work done by NGOs worldwide and honor social workers’ relentless efforts.
The Role of NGOs in Indian Democracy
NGOs in India are instrumental in bridging the gap between government programs and marginalized sections of society often overlooked by state projects. For instance, they were crucial in providing aid to migrant workers during the Covid-19 crisis. With India still battling the pandemic, these non-profit organizations have tirelessly worked on the ground to supplement government relief efforts and actively engage in vaccination drives aimed at the most vulnerable communities.
Moreover, NGOs in India help facilitate community-level operations and self-help groups, key ingredients for grassroots change. They often collaborate with larger NGOs and research agencies with access to foreign funding. Some NGOs even mobilize public opinion against government policies and actions, acting as vital pressure groups in a democracy. They’ve also contributed to the enactment of landmark laws in the country, like the Environmental Protection Act, Right to Education Act, Forest Rights Act, and many more.
Issues Emanating from NGOs
Despite their crucial roles, NGOs face a crisis of credibility. In recent years, numerous organizations have sprouted claiming to aid the poor. However, under the guise of being an NGO, these establishments often exploit donors and engage in money laundering activities. Another issue is the lack of transparency and accountability. Allegations of corruption against NGOs are often ignored, and many have been blacklisted due to fund misappropriation.
Main Challenges Faced by NGOs
Many NGOs struggle with sourcing sufficient and continuous funding for their work. Finding compatible donors forms a significant part of this challenge. Besides, many NGOs lack a strategic plan that would facilitate success in their activities, impairing their ability to effectively raise and manage financial support.
Weak governance and networking also plague the NGO sector. The understanding of why having a board is crucial and how to set one up is often lacking. Furthermore, inefficient networking can lead to duplicated efforts, time inefficiencies, conflicting strategies, and an inability to learn from past experiences. A limited capacity to implement their mission and a reluctance to invest in capacity-building training is another hurdle faced by NGOs.
Way Forward
The future success of NGOs largely hinges on long-term strategies that not only focus on sustainable growth and development but also on cooperation and coordination from various sectors, including the government, corporate India, and NGOs. Capacity building and training can provide essential new skills, enabling NGOs to address challenges more effectively.
While it is important to regulate corrupt NGOs, excessive regulation, especially on foreign contributions, may hinder the functioning of the NGOs that play a crucial role in implementing government schemes at grassroots levels.
