A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit group that functions independently of any government. NGOs, sometimes called civil societies, are organized on community, national and international levels to serve a social or political goal such as humanitarian causes or the environment.

• Operational NGOs, which focus on the design and implementation of development projects.
• Advocacy NGOs, which defend or promote a specific cause and seek to influence public policy.

As non-profits  NGOs rely on a variety of sources for funding, including:

• membership dues
• private donations
• the sale of goods and services
• grants

Despite their independence from government, some NGOs rely heavily on government funding. Large NGOs may have budgets in the millions or billions of dollars.

As non-profits  NGOs rely on a variety of sources for funding, including:

• membership dues
• private donations
• the sale of goods and services
• grants

Despite their independence from government, some NGOs rely heavily on government funding. Large NGOs may have budgets in the millions or billions of dollars.

Latest issue:- Government has suspended license of Amnesty international NGO

Amnesty International’s brouhaha about the new FCRA regulations and subsequently, its decision to wind up activities in India have evoked response on expected lines. Interestingly, responses from the strong and wide network of civil society movement in India are feeble, a reflection of the fact that society at large, perhaps is least concerned about whatever happens to these NGOs. This is not a healthy sign, although the NGO sector itself is largely to blame for this situation.

Traditionally, Indian world view has always not only recognised the third-sector or the civil society but also attached great importance to their work. Our temples, as religious institutions were institutions known for humanitarian work, especially through free food distribution to overcome the challenge of hunger. Charity was always high on the agenda of trade and industry organisations even when the idea of CSR was almost unheard of! At a personal level, to spare a part of meal for an uninvited guest or for the insects and animals who might be hungry was a part of traditional Indian family culture.

While working on a particular issue, say Human Rights or Empowerment of the Marginal Sections of the society, NGOs also enter the arena of advocacy. This had a basic contradiction in itself as the service provider itself donned the cap of an independent auditor. For that, many of them started seeking further grants, producing reports after reports. In the process, some of them developed the art of balancing out, where either the Govt departments are spared of objective criticism or are painted with a black brush, again at the cost of objectivity. In this process, NGOs working in partnership with the Govt started losing credibility as they sought patronage and still presented themselves as an independent auditing agency. This obviously didn’t cut any ice, taking the integrity quotient of NGOs further southwards at least in public perception. There is a long and internationally debated history to the suspicious positions taken by NGOs with external origins, or those who survive mainly on international funding. It’s not for no reason that poverty in India has come as a fodder to many such global NGOs. Many of them capitalise on all that is negative in what they refer to as Third World Countries, whether in Asia or in Africa. Doing away with perversions that have crept in the NGO sector globally, requires a more comprehensive approach. The most critical question in this context is that of the credibility of this sector. People have long started looking at NGOs with skepticism. Measures to protect the purity of their very purpose may alone help the spirit of voluntarism sustain.

Government NGO Web Portal

The NGO DARPAN was earlier maintained by erstwhile Planning Commission, which has been replaced by the NITI Aayog January, 2015. The Portal, therefore, is being maintained at present under the aegis of NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog invites all Voluntary Organizations (VOs)/ Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to Sign Up on the Portal.                                                                                                                                 NGOs play a major role in the development of the nation by supplementing the efforts of the Government. This portal enables VOs/NGOs to enrol centrally and thus facilitates creation of a repository of information about VOs/NGOs, Sector/State wise. The Portal facilitates VOs/NGOs to obtain a system generated Unique ID, as and when signed. The Unique ID is mandatory to apply for grants under various schemes of Ministries/Departments/Governments Bodies.he NGO-DARPAN lists the number of VOs/NGOs in India based on self-declared information. This does not imply that organizations are endorsed or recommended by the NITI Aayog by the concerned Ministries/Departments/Government Bodies. NITI Aayog / MeitY-NIC does not guarantee that the information contained on the portal is complete and correct and shall not be liable whatsoever for any damages incurred as a result of its use.

NGO funding so we can deal with threats like COVID-19

We also know that populations affected by conflict and those trapped in states of fragility and protracted crises, such as Yemen, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be especially vulnerable to the pandemic’s impact: health and economic effects certainly, but also risks to social order and cohesion.The global humanitarian NGO community stands ready to respond to the extraordinary needs that this crisis is generating. Organizations, including Mercy Corps and many others – especially local NGOs most connected to the communities where they work – are already scaling up our responses, and preparing to do so much more.  Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community, which is at the centre of the World Economic Forum’s mission as the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. 

India’s economy has experienced tremendous growth in urban industries such as services and information technology. However, around 172 million Indians continue to live in poverty and of these, 69 percent live in rural areas. More than two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture—mostly at a small-scale or subsistence level—for their livelihoods.

Strengthen value chains: We work closely with smallholder farmers to enable them to grow high-value products, engage with private-sector companies and sell in profitable markets.                                                                                                                          Foster entrepreneurship in poor communities: We provide business training and skills development support to women and men who want to create thriving, sustainable enterprises.                                                                                                                    Support sustainable local economic development: Our market-led approach increases incomes for target groups, while also catalyzing economic and social development for the whole community.                                                                                                          Promote gender-inclusive communities: We integrate a gender lens throughout our programs and provide tailored support for women to expand their opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

Development of the civic society after the fall of communism. 

After 1989, the nature of the relationship between government and citizens, and between the state and the non-governmental sector, was systematically and incrementally modified. The easiest way to definitively change the relationship is to look at it from the perspective of governance reform. The relationship between the state and the non-governmental sector is subsumed through complex issues of governance reform and is an integral part of the modernization of the State. The State modernization effort requires not only the introduction of some elements of performance management and an increase in the efficient use of public funds, but also elements of good governance. In Romania, the interest in developing the relationship between the government and the non-government sector has increased appreciably in the last two decades, quickly introducing partnership models to address issues developed at the international level. Analysing the NGO sector in the last 20 years, we cannot ignore the major influence which various governments have had on its development. A minimum condition for the development of the NGO sector in any society is the existence of a democratic political framework. 

Conclusions 

1.Ensuring the optimal functioning of transparency legislation, namely Law 544/2001 and 52/2003. There should be no exceptions or deviations in terms of the implementation of constitutional rights related to freedom of expression and encouraging a coherent legal framework on the right to association;                                                                                                                       2.Facilitating access to information with regard to NGOs budgetary policies and establishing legal and institutional mechanisms to support accountability and responsibility;                                    3.Supporting public funds associated with NGO participation in policy process monitoring in various fields;                                                                                                                                           4.Supporting the development of mechanisms for social dialog forums in which organizations are included. It should be recalled that in Romania, including representatives of the NGO sector in CES is much delayed,                                                                                               5.Encouraging the use of public consultation and participation mechanisms at central and local levels; Increasing the capacity of government representatives to organize consultative processes.