Role Of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
NGOs are voluntary organization’s. These are popularly known as NGOs because they are free from governmental control in their functioning. They are democratic and open to all those wishing to become member of the organization voluntarily and serve the Society.
NGO have a long history in India. In the past, people in this country have been found to have provided help to others in trouble. Since centuries there exists the tradition of voluntary service to the needy and helpless in the country. In the beginning, these Services were rendered by people motivated by their religious feelings.
NGOs have immense role in bringing about Social Change and development and it is being experienced from different parts of the country. Development, as we have read earlier, is a multi- faceted process, which essentially involves the aggressive participation of the people that would not be possible unless they are educated, awakened and motivated. NGOs are taking up this job sportingly and successfully.
The areas in which we witness active and appreciative role of NGOs are as follows:
- The NGOs are active to promote Education, particularly among that section of Population, which has remained UN-benefited or less benefited by the measures adopted by the government. The education of girls, and other deprived people, particularly the SCs and STs, has been their target objective.
- Women are the other vulnerable section of society. Gender discrimination is a ubiquitous cultural reality. Girls are discriminated in the upbringing pattern in the family. Larger numbers of the undernourished are from amongst the girls. Retention of girls in schools is much less as compared to boys. Women are forced to work as housewife and denied participation in gainful economic activities outside homes. About three-fourths of the work done by women is un-monetized.
- Since the second half of the preceding century started the change in the status of women with their active participation in political, social and economic activities, which gained acceleration since the last quarter of the preceding century. More and more women started moving out of the four walls of their houses and involving themselves actively in the social sphere outside their homes.
Important in this process has been the role of academicians and NGOs. The book Women’s Role in Economic Development by Easter Boserup (1970) is the pioneering work in this direction. After a gap of few years, by 1978, a large number of works were published, particularly on the status of women in the Third World – where their position has been more vulnerable.
The role of women voluntary organizations towards this cause has been marvelous. Sewa, Sathin, Eklavya, Disha, Environmental Action Group and Agrani Foundation etc. are some of the thousands of NGOs known for their role in development by creating awareness among people and interventions, if required.
- The approach to development has been almost uniform world over at least in terms of the use of technology, magnitude of production, pattern of consumption and achievement of wealth. Both state and people were unaware or lackadaisical about the backwash of the nature of development pursued.
The threat to the human life developed due to environmental pollution and imbalance and the depletion of natural Resources as a consequence of the nature of development. Here, the role of NGOs is really noticeable and praiseworthy. Thousands of voluntary organizations are at work to awaken people and governments against environmental degradation and depletion of resources.
- It is not that the development process has unleashed only environmental threats to the human existence but also many people are displaced due to developmental projects and are quite often not properly compensated and rehabilitated.
The NGOs have a major role to play towards the cause of people’s resettlement and are also performing commendable job in this direction. The projects like the construction of Dams, road highways and railways have often made some sections of people, particularly in rural areas, vulnerable and are displaced without being properly compensated.
- NGOs are also rendering great service in restoring dignity to the deprived and discriminated sections of the people in the society like women suffering from gender discrimination, lower caste people suffering from caste segregation and the status of untouchable, racial and religious discriminations.
Voluntary organizations, working at both national and international levels, have earned praise for their services in societal development. These organizations are busy in creating awareness and zeal for participation in development projects. Ensuring humanism by fighting against Human Rights violations, social exclusions, domestic violence and others have been common objectives of the NGOs. Of late, these organizations are also entering the sector of economic well-being and standard of living. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, Agrani Foundation’s Jan Suraksha Kranti (JSK) scheme of Savings and life insurance is indeed a commendable effort in this direction
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Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are private organizations that are not part of any government. They can be either for-profit or non-profit, and they can operate at the local, national, or international level. NGOs play a vital role in society by providing a range of services and advocacy on a variety of issues.
Some of the key roles that NGOs play include:
- Advocacy: NGOs can advocate for change on a variety of issues, such as human rights, environmental protection, and social Justice. They can do this by lobbying governments, raising awareness among the public, and organizing protests and demonstrations.
- Development: NGOs can provide development assistance to communities in need, such as building schools, providing healthcare, and promoting economic development. They can also work to empower marginalized groups and promote social inclusion.
- Education: NGOs can provide education and training to individuals and communities, such as teaching Literacy skills, providing vocational training, and promoting civic engagement. They can also work to improve access to education for marginalized groups.
- Emergency relief: NGOs can provide emergency relief to people affected by natural disasters, war, and other crises. They can do this by providing food, water, shelter, and medical care.
- Environment: NGOs can protect the environment by working to conserve Natural Resources, reduce pollution, and promote Sustainable Development. They can also work to raise awareness about environmental issues and advocate for policies that protect the environment.
- Health: NGOs can provide healthcare to people in need, such as running clinics, providing vaccinations, and promoting healthy lifestyles. They can also work to improve access to healthcare for marginalized groups.
- Human rights: NGOs can promote and protect human rights by working to end discrimination, combat violence, and ensure access to justice. They can also work to raise awareness about Human Rights Issues and advocate for policies that protect human rights.
- Peacebuilding: NGOs can promote peacebuilding by working to resolve conflict, prevent violence, and build trust between communities. They can also work to provide education and training on peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
- POVERTY alleviation: NGOs can alleviate poverty by providing economic opportunities, promoting education and healthcare, and advocating for policies that support the poor. They can also work to raise awareness about poverty issues and advocate for policies that reduce poverty.
- Research: NGOs can conduct research on a variety of issues, such as poverty, inequality, and Environmental Degradation. They can also use this research to advocate for policies that address these issues.
- Social services: NGOs can provide social services to people in need, such as childcare, elder care, and mental health counseling. They can also work to raise awareness about social service needs and advocate for policies that support social services.
- Sustainable development: NGOs can promote sustainable development by working to protect the environment, reduce poverty, and promote economic Growth. They can also work to raise awareness about sustainable development issues and advocate for policies that support sustainable development.
- Women’s Empowerment: NGOs can empower women by providing education and training, promoting economic opportunities, and advocating for women’s rights. They can also work to raise awareness about women’s rights issues and advocate for policies that support women’s rights.
- Youth development: NGOs can develop the skills and talents of young people, such as providing vocational training, promoting Leadership, and encouraging civic engagement. They can also work to raise awareness about youth issues and advocate for policies that support youth development.
NGOs play a vital role in society by providing a range of services and advocacy on a variety of issues. They are often able to reach people and communities that governments and other organizations cannot reach. NGOs are also often more flexible and innovative than governments and other organizations. As a result, they can often be more effective in addressing complex social and environmental problems.
However, NGOs also face a number of challenges. One challenge is that they often lack the resources to address the complex problems they are trying to solve. Another challenge is that they can be difficult to coordinate and manage. Finally, NGOs can sometimes be criticized for being too focused on their own agendas and not enough on the needs of the people they are trying to help.
Despite these challenges, NGOs continue to play a vital role in society. They are often the only organizations that are able to reach people and communities that governments and other organizations cannot reach. They are also often more flexible and innovative than governments and other organizations. As a result, they can often be more effective in addressing complex social and environmental problems.
What is an NGO?
An NGO, or non-governmental organization, is a non-profit group that is not affiliated with any government. NGOs can be involved in a wide range of activities, including humanitarian relief, environmental protection, and human rights advocacy.
What are the different types of NGOs?
There are many different types of NGOs, but they can generally be divided into two categories: service-providing NGOs and advocacy NGOs. Service-providing NGOs provide direct assistance to people in need, such as food, shelter, and medical care. Advocacy NGOs work to promote social change by lobbying governments and other organizations to adopt policies that benefit their cause.
What are the benefits of NGOs?
NGOs can play a vital role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems. They can provide much-needed assistance to people in need, and they can also help to raise awareness about important issues. Additionally, NGOs can often be more effective than governments in delivering aid and services, as they are not subject to the same bureaucratic constraints.
What are the challenges faced by NGOs?
NGOs face a number of challenges, including funding, staffing, and political interference. Funding can be a major challenge, as NGOs often rely on donations from individuals and foundations. Staffing can also be a challenge, as NGOs often need to find qualified people who are willing to work for low wages. Additionally, NGOs can be subject to political interference, as governments may try to control their activities or shut them down.
What is the future of NGOs?
The future of NGOs is uncertain. Some experts believe that NGOs will continue to play an important role in addressing global problems, while others believe that they will be increasingly marginalized by governments and other powerful actors. Only time will tell what the future holds for NGOs.
What are some examples of NGOs?
Some examples of NGOs include:
- The Red Cross
- Oxfam
- Greenpeace
- Amnesty International
- World Wildlife Fund
What are some of the most important issues that NGOs are working on?
Some of the most important issues that NGOs are working on include:
- Poverty
- Hunger
- Disease
- Environmental degradation
- Human rights abuses
- War and conflict
Question 1
Which of the following is not a type of NGO?
(A) Charitable organization
(B) Nonprofit organization
(C) Government organization
(D) Social enterprise
Answer
(C)
A government organization is a type of public organization that is funded by the government and is responsible for carrying out government policies. A charitable organization, nonprofit organization, and social enterprise are all types of NGOs.
Question 2
What is the main purpose of NGOs?
(A) To provide social services
(B) To protect the environment
(C) To promote human rights
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
NGOs can have a variety of purposes, but they are all non-profit organizations that are dedicated to serving the public good. Some common types of NGOs include charitable organizations, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises.
Question 3
How do NGOs raise Money?
(A) Through donations
(B) Through government grants
(C) Through sales of goods and services
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
NGOs can raise money through a variety of sources, including donations, government grants, and sales of goods and services.
Question 4
What are some of the challenges that NGOs face?
(A) Funding
(B) Staffing
(C) Governance
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
NGOs face a variety of challenges, including funding, staffing, and governance. Funding can be a challenge because NGOs are often dependent on donations from individuals and organizations. Staffing can be a challenge because NGOs often need to find qualified staff who are willing to work for low wages. Governance can be a challenge because NGOs need to have strong leadership and management in order to be effective.
Question 5
What are some of the benefits of NGOs?
(A) They can provide social services that governments cannot or will not provide.
(B) They can advocate for social change.
(C) They can hold governments accountable.
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
NGOs can provide a number of benefits, including providing social services that governments cannot or will not provide, advocating for social change, and holding governments accountable.
Question 6
What is the future of NGOs?
(A) They are likely to continue to grow in number and influence.
(B) They are likely to face increasing challenges, such as funding and staffing.
(C) They are likely to play an increasingly important role in addressing global challenges.
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
NGOs are likely to continue to grow in number and influence in the future. They are also likely to face increasing challenges, such as funding and staffing. However, they are also likely to play an increasingly important role in addressing global challenges.