India liberalised its economy in the early 90s and was subsequently flooded with multinational companies. Since then, globalisation and rapid economic development have had a huge impact on the socio-economic, political and cultural fabric of the country.
Although the benefits have been plenty, no doubt. However, development brings with it inequality: the gap between rich and poor has only widened.
This division eventually gave birth to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). However, the presence of NGOs in every nook and corner of the country doesn’t guarantee solution to all our problems.
Another disadvantage is that most of them are not connected. “Lack of networking is the biggest problem faced by NGOs. Many of them are based in rural areas and hence don’t have the right kind of technology to remain well-connected,” said Soumitra Ghosh, founder and CEO, CSO Partners.
This organisation aims to bring together all non-governmental organisations, groups, communities, foundations or institutions.
The reason is simple: NGOs can share their expertise for a better tomorrow. “We want to give a platform to various organisations so that we can help them connect and help each other with their work,” added Ghosh.
NGOs in India differ from their western counterparts. Here they believe in locality initiatives, wherein local residents come together to help the society and focus on issues like education, primary healthcare, drinking water, sanitation,forest regeneration, tribal development, women’s development, child labour as most problems directly affect a community.
However, approaching an NGO isn’t always easy as there is a communication gap. Ghosh feels that even if someone wants to offer help, the individual doesn’t know how to go about with it. For instance, during the floods in Bihar in 2009, many didn’t know about various NGOs participating in relief work. “Our partnership with CSO Partners dates back to a year. We interacted with the organisation to seek their support for flood rehabilitation and restoration of livelihood for the worst-affected families of Bihar,” said CP Kumbhat, chief executive of ACE, an NGO working in Bihar.
Nevertheless, the menace of apathy is also part of the story. Most donors feel their money isn’t reaching the right hands. Many also cry out accusing NGOs of being corrupt. This perception needs to change. ICICI Foundation has been the strategic associate of CSO Partners since its inception in January 2008. It believes that for more people to participate in and benefit from India’s growth process — it is important to have strong civil society organisations. “ICICI Foundation partners with CSO Partners to provide technical, human and financial resources help social organisation build their own capacity,” said an ICICI Foundation spokesperson.
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