Opening Door to Synergy of
NGOs: Indian Experience
Prof. Ajar Kumar Jain
I I H M R, Jaipur, India
NGOs
• In the era of globalization successful
implementation of development
programmes requires appropriate delivery
mechanism
• NGOs/NPOs received special attention
during the last two decades
• Growing visibility of NGOs in Socio-
economic sector in India
Genesis
• As old as human civilization
• Charity based, Caste, Religion, Community
based
• End of 18th Century- Missionaries
(Restrictions)
• 1813- Charter Act: Restrictions removed
• Renaissance period- Ram Mohan Ray & others:
Reforms, Widows, Women
• First War of Independence (1857)
• Societies Registration Act (1860)
• Several Social and Religious Institutions:
• Arya Samaj 1875
• Brahma Samaj 1878
• Ramkrishna Mission 1898
• Indian National Congress 1885: Self Respect,
Self confidence
• Emergence of Working Class- Trade
Unions
• Political awakening and consciousness
• Gandhiji’s Construction and village
based programme
• Thus, before Independence the spirit of
Voluntarism was visible in socio-
economic and political spheres
Post- Independence
• Variety of Initiatives
• Variety of Programmes
• Variety of Roles( service, advocacy,
lobbying, action, profit, research)
• Cooperative movement
• Social work like voices against
untouchability, rights of the deprived
• Creation of Central Social Welfare Board
1953
• Rural Development- Post 1969; Bottom up
approach
• In seventies the Church, the Left, the
Gandhians and the Lohiaites
• converged on the issue of Development &
Awareness
• JP Movement :Conscientisation
• Eighties: Charity and Service were replaced
by Integrated Development Model
• Relationship between State and NPOs
strengthened
• Business and Industrial Houses came into
the areas of NPOs
• Profit-Turned Non-Profit Organisations
(PTNPOs)
• In early nineties :Empowerment Model
• More legitimacy and credibility to
NPOs due to failure of State to reach the
poor and the marginalised
• At the end of the twentieth century and
beginning of the twenty first century:
NPO and PTNPOs in durable
partnership with Government
Growth Vs. Development under Five
Year Plans
• First Plan (1951-1956): Rs. 40 million
• Third Plan: Rs.310 million
• Fifth Plan: Rs.830 million
• In Seventh Plan: Welfarism to Self Reliant Governance:
PRIs, Cooperatives
• In VIII Plan: Profit making NPOs with Corporate Culture
• Decentralised funding based on the principles of
accountability
• In IX Plan: functions of Governance to PRIs & Govt.
NGOs
Thus, NGOs to-day have a rich tapestry of
variety, colour and pluralism
Forms
• VOs • SHGs
• VAs • GO NGOs
• NGOs • QA NGOs
• • BO NGOs
NPOs
• PO NGOs
• SAGs
• FO NGOs
• SMGs
• PTNPOs
• CBOs • OTHERs
• PRIs
Features
• Near the Community, People
• Partnership in Development
• Small Size and Simple Procedures
• Flexibility
• Innovation & Experiments
• New Professionalism
• Varied ideology, perceptions, programmes
• Cost effective
• Micro realities to Macro Policies
• Finding alternatives
• Mobilization of people
• Pressure on Government
• Bottom up approach
• Role in promoting Civil society
• Watch dog’s role
• Black sheep factor
Challenges
• Challenge of building Civil Society
State Market Alternative thinking
• Challenge of Sustainability
– Collective thinking necessary
– Changed organisational frame
• Challenge of Relevance
– Resources, Restructuring, PRIs
• Challenge of Professionalism
Therefore, Researches are necessary
