Dear Amitabh Kant,
I am Shachindra Sharma, a researcher closely associated with the NGO sector for almost three decades, residing in Lucknow. I am writing this letter to you to express my concern over NITI Aayog’s briefing to the Prime Minister on May 1 “on how the Government is working in active partnership with NGOs” in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
Media reports suggest that officials have been asked to explore how volunteers from civil society can be utilised to lessen the pressure on healthcare sector by invoking them in non-specialised tasks. It was discussed that NGOs could help to establish and maintain lines of communication between the patients, their dependents and health care personnel.
Sounds great! But where are the NGOs to take up this onerous task? You will say that they are there on your Aayog’s portal. Sorry, most of them are just there. Only a few of them are somehow breathing. How long they will survive, no one knows.
For the past several years, systematic efforts have been made to weaken the NGOs. It all started with renewal of the society every five years. Then followed renewal of FCRA registration again for every five years. Last year’s measures to open account in designated bank branch, capping administrative expenses and non-transfer of foreign funds to other NGOs have not only demoralised, but also practically shut small NGOs working at the grassroots. Remember many of them were engaged in community awareness and development activities with overall budget of Rs 10 lakh per annum, or even less.
The Government did not stop here. Even CSR funding was made extremely difficult. Every such organisation had not only to compulsorily get exemption under Section 80G of Income Tax, but also register with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Then the Government needs PAN and Aadhaar of all the office-bearers. One does not know where the Government’s hunger of documents will stop.
Every other media carries stories of measures of ease of doing business. For NGOs, one can see difficulty of doing service. I remember in second half of 1990s, there was a demand from NGOs to enact a singly law for their governance. No one paid any heed. Just because an entity is registered as a society, or a trust, or a section 25 company, it does not become an NGO. An NGO becomes an NGO due to its character, not by the registration.
For any sector to work well, wrong doers need to be punished. But at the same time those working well need to be encouraged. And this encouragement can come through smooth flow of funds and removal of (bureaucratic) hurdles. There are so many instances that second and third instalments of the project money has not been released by the Government.
During the last one year, the NGOs have become very weak, financially and morally. Right at the onset of pandemic when lockdown was declared last year, many NGOs started action by creating awareness to providing food kits, hygiene kits, medical assistance, etc. That was possible because foreign donors having offices in India immediately provided funds to grassroots NGOs or allowed them to use money available for planned activities for this cause. This year no such action can be seen because NGOs don’t have money owing to last year’s FCRA decision.
If you can do something to strengthen NGOs, please do. Mere rhetoric will not work.
Warm regards.
Sincerely
Shachindra Sharma
Pix: Villagers with their food kits. This is last year’s photo
NGO ,समाज और सरकारी व्यवस्था के बीच की कड़ी है । वर्तमान में सरकार ने एन जी ओ के लिए जो खाई खोदी है वो इसकी अवधारणा के विपरीत है
आपने बहुत सही समय इस मुद्दे पर लोगों का ध्यान केंद्रित करने की कोशिश की है । आपका धन्यवाद। मैं पूर्णतः सहमत हूं और साथ भी
Yes I am agree with Mr.Sachindra of the NGO sector ground fact..
नीति आयोग नही कुनीति आयोग कहिए सर जी
जितने भी निर्णय लिए गए है इस आयोग द्वारा सभी सवालों के कठघरे में है।।
Excellent..well said and penned..I fully agree.????
सब हवाई बातें और दावे, उम्मीद उनसे लगाई जाती है जिनके अंदर ज़मीर बचा हो , यहाँ तो वो गायब है।
भैंस के आगे बीन नहीं बजायी जाती।
सरकार को यह समझना पड़ेगा NGO ,समाज और सरकारी व्यवस्था के बीच की कड़ी है ।
आपने बहुत सही समय इस मुद्दे पर लोगों का ध्यान केंद्रित करने की कोशिश की है ।
धन्यवाद
Sir
You are doing good work for the society.
I agree with you
Great and humble message to the Government. I pray, our voices will be heard.
Hamari kendra sarkaar dwaara Jin ngos /csos ki gardan daba di gayee , vo saare to is tarah chup ho gaye , maano unke muh me jubaan hi na ho . Kam se kam aap ne in tamaam bejubaan ki aawaj to buland ki , tadarth saadhuvaad . Achha ho ki yeh patra aap seedhe PM aur Home Minister ko bhi bhej den . Baaki neeti aayog ngos ka kuchh bhala kar paayega , isme sandeh hai .Kyonki vahaan ke saare karta dharta aakhir hai to sarkaari milani hi . Jo sarkar chahegi , yeh sab vahi karenge . Rahi baat samaaj ke liye kuchh kar gujarne kee , to vah sab aapne likh hi diya hai . Ishwar hamaari sakaar ko sheeghra hi sadbuddhi de , ishi kaamna ke saath . .. shubekshu .. jai Prakash Trivedi , Fatehpur , U. p.
Rightly said, the hole nation is facing problem but NGO’s has double problem.
बहुत ही सुंदर, लेकिन इस महामारी के दौरान सरकार अपने नये FCRA कानून के अंतर्गत कम से कम 6 माह का छूट गैर सरकारी संस्थानों को कार्य करने हेतु अवसर देना चाहिए जिससे वर्तमान स्थिति में और बेहतर परिणाम निकल कर आये।
मुकुल राय
देवरिया
Very nice message, relevant to government and civil society as well. If government will go through this blog/ message will think over it. This Is actual seen of CSOs have been presented by Mr Sachindra Sharma.
बहुत सुंदर ढंग से स्वैच्छिक संगठनों के कार्यकर्ताओं के द्वारा कोबिड 19 महामारी में अपना योगदान दे रहे हैं, किन्तु उनके प्रयासों को उचित सहयोग नही मिल पा रहा है।
ऐसे प्रयासों और उनमें आने वाली बाधाओं को नीति निर्माताओं के सामने लाने की जरूरत है।
Mr.Sachindra ji
You have put real ground fact.
Niti Aayog should do needful in positive direction.
Dr.Y.S.Parmar
Agra