Running an NGO is very complicated, decidedly more complicated than running a business.

A small business owner is accountable to him only, earns money and spends the way he wishes. Compare this with NGO owner, oh sorry NGO head, variously called director, executive director, secretary, president… The NGO head is supposed to work ‘selflessly’ for the uplift of the people, champion for their rights, protect environment, improve agriculture, promote education, provide livelihood options, and so on and so forth.

What about his livelihood? What about security of his family? What about his children’s education? What about his future when grants stop, or he is not able to work? No one has answers.

Many NGOs announce salary, or honorarium structure, in their annual reports. In grassroots NGOs one will hardly find any employee earning more than Rs 50,000 per month and very few earning between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000. Even in this remuneration range there may be just one or two employees, who is invariably NGO head. Mind it this is the case of NGOs with annual turnover of Rs 1 to 2 crore or even more.

So how do the NGO head and his family survive? Should the NGO head not be compensated decently for the time and efforts he puts in for running the organisation that works for improving the lot of the people?

Recently, patriarch of a very respected NGO candidly confided that the Governing Board of the organisation authorised the director to draw a monthly salary of Rs 60,000. But there was no money. This NGO has annual grants of little more than Rs 2 crore from five-six projects. But part salary from all the projects did not match up the sanctioned salary!

It’s an increasing trend among donors, government, corporate, foreign, all included, not to make any provision of remuneration for the organisation’s head. He is the poor guy who is responsible for each and everything. To comply with donor requirements and statutory requirements he just loses his sleep, his personal life, everything. If he works as project manager with some project in his own organisation to meet his financial needs, the project donor pressurises him to resign as head of organisation. He becomes sick while advocating for the health of the people. There have been a few instances of untimely death because of this tense life.

On the other side of the fence the owner of a business with Rs 2 crore annual turnover will take a minimum Rs 20 lakh to his home, if the business belongs to least paying category. This amount is more than sufficient to meet all his needs.

In this rather grim scenario, pass outs from elite social work institutions will chose to work with corporates and donor organisations and no one will dare to work at the grassroots. Mediocrity will continue to rule the roost in the sector. And so will corruption.

Featured Photo: Children at a non-formal education centre being run by an NGO in Uttar Pradesh