Monday, July 31, 2017

Chennai immigration officials have not allowed 19 UK citizens entry in the country

Chennai immigration officials have not allowed a team of 19 UK citizens (16 ‎students & 3 children) entry in the country. The group was part of a ‎programme under which UK children support underprivileged children, ‎through monetary and 'in kind' donations and also interacting with children ‎through painting murals & other constructive work for about a day. Their other ‎part of activities included sight-seeing in the city and nearby villages. ‎

However immigration authorities decided that this was working in the NGO ‎and their tourist visa, which the group was holding, did not allow the same. ‎They deported the entire group. ‎

Infact this has implications for a number of NGOs, whose programmes often ‎include visits / internship / exchange programmes by foreigners in their field ‎areas. ‎

India basically has issues tourist visa, business visa & Employment visa. A ‎person who comes to India to work for an NGO needs to apply for an ‎Employment Visa, even if it is on honorary basis. ‎

In the present case, where idea was for UK school children to interact with ‎children at a children's Home, it seems to be a case of overkill, but is a lesson ‎for all NGOs to be careful when inviting foreigners in their offices / workplace. ‎

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Indian NGO Directory

Please visit for Indian NGO Directory at: http://ngodarpan.gov.in/index.php/home/statewise

A second opportunity for GST Workshop at New Delhi on 28th July 2017

Dear Colleagues,

We are happy to share with you that we received an overwhelming response to our workshop on GST on 19th July 2017. We had 132 participants and had rich discussions. As we are still receiving participation requests, we are conducting a repeat workshop on 28th July 2017 at India Habitat Centre (Magnolia Hall). This is a reminder mail for you to register online in case you have missed the opportunity earlier.

Find attached here with the brochure

 

To register online click here : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XybUoKluRH2Ut0oKRVZRfsehNrEZ6lx86C5fqEZPSSs/viewform?edit_requested=true

 

 

Regards

Dr. Sanjay Patra
Executive Director

Women saved from extreme poverty in Odisha by Bandhan Konnagar

Leading NGO Bandhan Konnagar is all set to launch a drive in Bhadrak district with an aim to uplift over 2,000 families out of debilitating poverty.

The NGO will launch the drive in Bhadrak after successfully uplifting around 1,800 poor women in Odisha's Kendrapara district.

"We are now taking our unique programme - 'Targeting the Hardcore Poor' (THP) - to Bhadrak district where 2,000 women-headed families have been selected as beneficiaries of this THP programme," Chandra Sekhar Ghosh, founder of Bandhan Konnagar, said.

"We are glad that we have been able to uplift 1,800 families in Kendrapara from the clutches of extreme poverty.

The mission of the THP programme is to help such women live with dignity. Work in Bhadrak will start from August 1," he said.

Ghosh was here for the graduation ceremony of Bandhan Konnagar's just concluded THP programme in Kendrapara district.

He said funding for the programme in Bhadrak will be provided by Bandhan Bank through its CSR activities.

Odisha's Women and Child Development minister Prafulla Samal lauded Bandhan Konnagar's efforts at uplifting extremely poor women.

"Bandhan Konnagar has done a commendable job in bringing succour to these very disadvantaged women-headed families. The state government will extend all help to the organisation to do more such work in Odisha," he said.

Bandhan Konnagar'S THP programme had targeted women from seven blocks of Kendrapara, Ghosh said.

The women successfully claimed their rightful place in the mainstream society after years of extreme struggle for survival. The areas covered were Mahakalpara, Marsaghai, Derabish, Aul, Rajnagar, Pattamundai, Kendrapara Municipality and Rajkanika.

Explaining the THP programme, Ghosh said it uses a 24-month rigorous graduation model to assist vulnerable women as they forge a pathway out of poverty through micro-entrepreneurship.

In Odisha, the program was launched in 2015, with funding from USAID-DIV and in collaboration with J-Pal, a global research and policy organisation.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-women-saved-from-extreme-poverty-in-odisha-by-bandhan-konnagar-2508650

NMC to invite NGOs for sterilizing strays in city

Nagpur: With the standing committee of Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) recently approving the Rs3.5 crore proposal for sterilizing city's stray dogs, the civic body now plans to call for Expression of Interest (EoI) in the coming week. NMC plans to operate around 50,000 dogs.

NMC, which will be inviting national-level NGOs recognized by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), will be paying Rs700 per animal birth control (ABC) operation to the NGOs, according to NMC veterinary officer Gajendra Mahalle.

As per the proposal, five ABC centres will be set-up zone-wise in the city. Installation of CCTV cameras is mandatory at every centre. "The cost of setting-up ABC centres and cameras will be borne by NMC. Cameras are necessary to ensure transparency," said Mahalle. NMC also plans to approach Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and state animal welfare board for additional funds.

Terms laid down by the civic body specify that the organizations should have a minimum of two years' experience in ABC operations or of operating at least 25,000 dogs. "The time frame for completing operations of 50,000 dogs will be around one year. It would depends on the number of NGOs that come forward," said Mahalle adding it would be best if five different NGOs are selected for handling five centres.

TOI was the first to report about this proposal. NMC has also formed a committee consisting of animal lovers, activists and practising veterinarians to prepare an action plan for carrying out ABC operations of stray dogs.

Apart from this committee, separate sub-committees will be formed at every centre to monitor the process. Each sub-committee will comprise one NMC zonal official, a technically sound private veterinary doctor, a representative of local NGO, and an animal lover. NMC will also approach animal husbandry department for delegating its officials as committee members. "They have to ensure the operations are performed effectively and as per the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001," said Mahalle.

The sub-committee will also be responsible for releasing and catching dogs from different streets. "The private doctor will be asked to verify the data post-operations. The committee will be submitting its centre's report regularly to NMC," said Mahalle.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/nmc-to-invite-ngos-for-sterilizing-strays-in-city/articleshow/59689804.cms

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ମୋଦିଙ୍କୁ ନିଜର ଅସୁବିଧା ଜଣାଇବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛନ୍ତି? ତେବେ ଏହି ଠିକଣାରେ ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ କରନ୍ତୁ

ନୂଆଦିଲ୍ଲୀ: ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ମୋଦି ସୋସିଆଲ ମିଡିଆରେ ଖୁବ୍‌ ସକ୍ରିୟ । ତେବେ ଆପଣ ବି ଚାହିଁଲେ ମୋଦିଙ୍କ ସହିତ ସହଜ ଓ ସୁବିଧାରେ ଯୋଗଯୋଗ କରି ନିଜର ଅସୁବିଧା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜଣାଇ ପାରିବେ। ତେବେ ଆସନ୍ତୁ ଜାଣିବା ମୋଦିଙ୍କ ଫୋନ୍‌ନମ୍ବର, ଇମେଲ, ଫେସ୍‌ବୁକ, ଟୁଇଟର, ୟୁଟ୍ୟୁବ ଓ ଫ୍ୟାକ୍ସ ଆଇଡି ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ।

୧.ଫେସ୍‌ବୁକ: http://www.facebook.com/narendramodi

୨.ଟୁଇଟର : http://twitter.com/narendramodi

୩.ଗୁଗଲ ପ୍ଲସ: http://plus.google.com/+NarendraModi

୪.ୟୁଟ୍ୟୁବ: http://www.youtube.com/user/narendramodi

୫.ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଇମେଲ୍‌: connect@mygov.nic.in/ narendramodi1234@gmail.com

୬.ଏତଦ୍‌ବ୍ୟତୀତ ମୋଦିଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ଠିକଣାରେ ନିଜ ଅସୁବିଧା ମଧ୍ୟ ଜଣାଇ ପାରିବେ: େଓ୍ଵବ୍‌ ଇନ୍‌ଫରମେନ୍‌ସନ୍‌ ମାନଗର, ସାଉଥ୍‌ବ୍ଲକ୍‌, ରାଇସିନା ହିଲ, ନୂଆଦିଲ୍ଲୀ -୧୧୦୦୧୧ — ଫୋନ୍‌ ନମ୍ବର – +୯୧-୧୧-୨୩୦୧୨୩୧୨

ଫ୍ୟାକ୍ସ – +୯୧-୧୧-୨୩୦୧୯୫୪୫ , ୨୩୦୧୬୮୫୭

୭.ମୋଦିଙ୍କ ସହ ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଫୋନ୍‌ ନମ୍ବର: ୦୧୧-୨୩୦୧୫୬୦୩, ୦୧୧-୨୩୦୧୮୯୩୯, ୦୧୧-୨୩୦୧୮୬୬୮

୮.ହେଲପ୍‌ ଲାଇନ୍‌ ନମ୍ବର:: +୯୧-୧୮୦୦-୧୧୦-୦୩୧

୯.ପିଏମ୍‌ଓ: ୦୧୧-୨୩୦୧୨୩୧୨

୧୦.ପିଏମ୍‌ଓ ଫ୍ୟାକ୍ସ: ୦୧୧-୨୩୦୧୬୮୫୭

Instruction to NGOs

Delhi July 18, 2017

Over 2000 NGOS have been asked to validate their existing FCRA designated bank accounts and the list of these NGOs is available on website: www.fcraonline.nic.in

As per Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules, 2011, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt or utilization of any foreign contribution by any person whether or not such person is registered or granted prior permission under the Act, to the Central Government within 48 hours. Over 1000 NGOs which have been found to be misutilizing foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010 and Rules made thereunder, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to question by Shri R. Parthipan in the Lok Sabha today.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/instruction-to-ngos-117071801075_1.html

1,000 NGOs blacklisted for misusing foreign grant: Govt

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred from receiving foreign aid after they were found "mis-utilising" such funds, Union minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha today.

He said more than 2,000 non-government organisations have been asked to validate their existing bank accounts designated for receiving funds from abroad.

All the voluntary organisations need to be registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) (FCRA) Act to be eligible to receive financial aid from abroad.

According to the Act, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt of utilisation of any foreign contribution by a person to the central government within 48 hours.

"Over 1,000 NGOs found to be mis-utilising foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010 and rules made there under, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts," the Minister of State for Home Affairs said in a written reply.

The home ministry has already asked the NGOs receiving foreign funds to file annual returns, showing expenses and receipts of any such grant.

Source: http://www.ptinews.com/news/8898066_1-000-NGOs-blacklisted-for-misusing-foreign-grant--Govt.html

Over 1,000 NGOs blacklisted for misusing foreign funds: Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi: Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred from receiving foreign aid after they were found "mis-utilising" such funds, Union minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

File image of Kiren Rijiju. Image courtesy: PIB

He said more than 2,000 non-government organisations have been asked to validate their existing bank accounts designated for receiving funds from abroad.

All the voluntary organisations need to be registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to be eligible to receive financial aid from abroad.

According to the act, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt of utilisation of any foreign contribution by a person to the Central government within 48 hours.

"Over 1,000 NGOs found to be mis-utilising foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010 and rules made there under, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts," the Minister of State for Home Affairs said in a written reply.

The home ministry has already asked the NGOs receiving foreign funds to file annual returns, showing expenses and receipts of any such grant.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/india/over-1000-ngos-blacklisted-for-misusing-foreign-funds-kiren-rijiju-3827565.html

Over 1,000 NGOs Barred From Foreign Aid for Misusing Funds: Rijiju

Over 1,000 NGOs found to be mis-utilising foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010 and rules made there under, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts.

Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred from receiving foreign aid after they were found "mis-utilising" such funds, Union minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

He said more than 2,000 non-government organisations have been asked to validate their existing bank accounts designated for receiving funds from abroad.

All the voluntary organisations need to be registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) (FCRA) Act to be eligible to receive financial aid from abroad.

According to the Act, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt of utilisation of any foreign contribution by a person to the central government within 48 hours.

The home ministry has already asked the NGOs receiving foreign funds to file annual returns, showing expenses and receipts of any such grant.

Centre: 1,000 NGOs barred for misutilising foreign funds

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS): Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred for misutilising foreign funds and 2,000 asked to validate their existing FCRA designated bank accounts, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"Over 1,000 non-government organisations found to be misutilising foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010, and rules made thereunder, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply.

He said over 2,000 NGOS have been directed to validate their existing Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) designated bank accounts and the list of these NGOs is available on www.fcraonline.nic.in.

As per the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules, 2011, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt or utilisation of any foreign contribution by any person, whether or not such person is registered or granted prior permission under the Act, to the central government within 48 hours, he added.

Source: http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/centre-1000-ngos-barred-for-misutilising-foreign-funds/

1,000 NGOs barred for misutilising foreign funds: Centre

Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred for misutilising foreign funds and 2,000 asked to validate their existing FCRA designated bank accounts, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred for misutilising foreign funds and 2,000 asked to validate their existing FCRA designated bank accounts, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"Over 1,000 non-government organisations found to be misutilising foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010, and rules made thereunder, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply.

He said over 2,000 NGOs have been directed to validate their existing Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) designated bank accounts and the list of these NGOs is available on www.fcraonline.nic.in.

As per the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules, 2011, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt or utilisation of any foreign contribution by any person, whether or not such person is registered or granted prior permission under the Act, to the central government within 48 hours, he added.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/india/1000-ngos-barred-for-misutilising-foreign-funds-centre-2024865.html?pfrom=article-next-story

1,000 NGOS BARRED FOR MISUTILISING FOREIGN FUNDS: CENTRE

New Delhi: Over 1,000 NGOs have been barred for misutilising foreign funds and 2,000 asked to validate their existing FCRA designated bank accounts, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"Over 1,000 non-government organisations found to be misutilising foreign funds and violating various provisions of FCRA, 2010, and rules made thereunder, have been barred from operating their foreign contribution accounts," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply.

He said over 2,000 NGOs have been directed to validate their existing Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) designated bank accounts and the list of these NGOs is available on www.fcraonline.nic.in.

As per the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules, 2011, all banks shall report any transaction in respect of receipt or utilisation of any foreign contribution by any person, whether or not such person is registered or granted prior permission under the Act, to the central government within 48 hours, he added.

Source: https://www.primetimes.in/news/95685/1000-ngos-barred-for-misutilising-foreign-funds-centre/

Monday, July 17, 2017

AADHAAR Enrollment Center Search facility

 Please visit the link to find AADHAAR Center near you for AADHAAR registration https://appointments.uidai.gov.in

Expression of Interest for Empanellment of Agencies for Implementation of Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP) Components in Selected Blocks across India

Empanelment Project

Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India is inviting applications from the non-profit agencies desirous of being empaneled, as implementation partners, for its State Rural Livelihood Mission's (SRLM) flagship program 'Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme' (SVEP). At present SVEP component is being implemented in 40 blocks covering 14 states. It is expected that over a period of next 4 years, SVEP component will be scaled up and implemented in 125 blocks across the country. Expression of Interest is invited from the potential partners for this purpose.

The Requirement

In order to scale up SVEP implementation, it may be necessary to avail  services of experienced field implementation agencies (FIAs) who are promoting/working with rural enterprises Around 242 such implementation partners would be required.

As screening and empanelment of 242 experienced agencies requires intensive effort, MORD has hiredservices of EDII for providing technical support to MoRD in the empanelment process.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for Empanelment as Field Implementation Agency (FIA)

1.     FIA should be registered, non- political and secular in nature.

2.     FIA should not be black listed by any government department.

3.     FIA should have at least 2 years of relevant experience of implementing enterprise -promotion related livelihood activities, with the poor, especially in the state for which it is being proposed. The FIA should also have experience in promoting enterprises in the non-farm sector. Experience of working with community participation, in the rural areas, where the FIAs propose to work, under SVEP, would be an advantage.

4.     FIA should be not-for-profit and should have minimum annual turnover of Rs.20 lakhs in the past two years [as evidenced in the past two years audited/unaudited financial statements], preference will be given to agencies with minimum annual turnover of more than Rs. 100 lakh for the last two years.

5.     FIA should have preferably worked with a minimum 200 enterprises or members of producer groups.

6.     FIA should have transparency in financial matters, material handling, benefit sharing and fulfillment of legal compliances and should have processes and people in place to ensure the same.

7.     FIA should have adequate infrastructure and human resources with respect to the proposed project and should be willing to provide the undertaking for continuing working in the area for the project duration.

8.     FIA should have domain knowledge of and experience in community mobilization, SHG and Micro-finance, Livelihoods Enhancement, market linkages etc.

9.     FIA should have experience in forward and backward linkages in NTFP, artisanal products and other rural produce.

10.  FIA should preferably have worked with the state government in any other project and successfully completed the same in the last 2 years.

Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) reserves the rights to relax the eligibility criteria, if required.

Agencies mayvisit ngo.ediindia.org  for more details and to apply online for empanellment.

NB: Since this EOI is sent by EDII, please contact them for any clarifications at svep.ngohelp@ediindia.org

Sunday, July 16, 2017

India is fourth deadliest country for environmentalists

In 2016, 16 activists who work on land and environment issues were killed in India, as opposed to 6 murdered in 2015.

In India 16 land and environmental activists died in 2016, making India the fourth deadliest country according to a to a new report Defenders of the Earth by an international NGO Global Witness. The year before there were only 6 murders recorded by the NGO of people working on land and environmental protection issues, leading the authors to term the condition in the country as 'worsening."

Prafulla Samantara, who won the Goldman Environmental Prize also known as the Green Nobel this year, was also assaulted and intimidated. "In India, they say we are Maoists and extreme leftists. But we are democratic, we are non-violent. […] I am branded as anti-development by the corporates, by the ruling class and by the police who say we are a threat to law and order," Sumantara told the NGO.

The report documents the deaths of 200 activists across 24 countries last year.

In India, many of these activists are leading grassroots movement against projects proposed by big industries , the state or both and facing a harsh backlash.  In 10 of the 16 cases recorded last year, police were believed to be the perpetrators.

He is helping lead the movement against Vedanta Resources mining project in the Nyamgiri hills that Dongria Kondh tribe considers sacred. Based on his petition the Supreme Court directed that the tribe be allowed to vote on the Vedanta mine.

The report also takes account of the government's clampdown on NGOs in the country. In 2015, Greenpeace India was deregistered based on violations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, which activists allege is being used by the government to target inconvenient NGOs. In 2016, a further 25 NGOs had their licenses revoked under the FCRA.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/environment/india-is-fourth-deadliest-country-for-environmentalists/story-4turKf5fTomW33CUsSeyhJ.html

Trekker groups, NGOs to soon adopt forts

Trekker groups, voluntary organisations and NGOs will soon be able to adopt forts for their maintenance and upkeep.

The state's Directorate of Archaeology and Museums is planning to allow such groups to repair and restore the 350-odd forts across Maharashtra.

"We feel that NGOs and groups working for the conservation of forts must get the opportunity to handle the upkeep of these monuments. The possibility of involving them in the effort is being looked at," said Tejas Garge, Director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums.

He added they were planning to call for applications from such voluntary groups and then allocate forts to them for upkeep.

These organisations will have to construct approach roads, clear the vegetation, clean the fort and its precinct, ensure tourist management and prevent wrong-doing. But, they will not be given ticketing rights.

"They will not be able to conduct any work on the structures as it requires the intervention of experts," said Garge.

While the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state government have recognised just 100 of the 353 forts in Maharashtra as protected monuments, others are crumbling due to lack of preservation.

While the ASI controls 51 forts of national importance like Raigad, Janjira and Sindhudurg, the department is in-charge of 49 like Sinhagad, Rajgad, Naldurg, Paranda, Salher and Mulher.

Garge added that they had allocated work on conservation and restoration of the Naldurg fort in Osmanabad to a Solapur-based corporate under a conservation adoption scheme. Here, corporates can spend on the conservation of these monuments in return for ticketing rights.

"However, the government has strict rules like the turnover required, which leads to few companies coming forward," an official said.

The directorate has 371 monuments in its ambit, including 153 temples, 49 forts, 20 caves and 149 other sites like the Banganga caves and the Gateway of India, but has to manage with just 98 security guards.

It is planning to add 88 more forts to its list of protected sites, including 33 in the Pune division.

The Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960, allows the state government to preserve ancient and historical monuments, records and archaeological sites and remains.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-trekker-groups-ngos-to-soon-adopt-forts-2503505

Can Techno-Social Innovations Solve Country’s Most Pressing Social Problems?

The Nasscom Social Innovation Forum (NSIF) provides catalytic grants and targeted mentoring for the strongest upcoming innovators with disruptive solutions to fill the gaps in the areas of education, healthcare, disability, environment, agriculture and livelihood and more. We speak to Shrikant Sinha, CEO, Nasscom Foundation and Dr. Meenu Bhambhani, Vice President & Head – CSR, Mphasis, on how NSIF has collectively built one of the strongest ecosystems to encourage tech aided development in the country.

Given the diverse social, economic and political demographic of India, the country is host to a plethora of social problems. Its burgeoning population makes the provisioning of basic needs such as food, shelter and healthcare a challenge, with many falling victim to abject poverty. To further exacerbate the problem, there has been mounting pressure both internally and from the international community calling for change. Hence, it has never been more critical to find sustainable and scalable solutions capable of bridging these gaps and driving holistic development.

Through both for profit and not for profit models, individuals are leveraging the multiplying power of technology to create innovative solutions to some of the most pressing social problems. It is this new wave of technology led development that the Nasscom Social Innovation Forum (NSIF) hopes to embody. NSIF provides catalytic grants and targeted mentoring for the strongest upcoming innovators with disruptive solutions to fill the gaps in the areas of education, healthcare, disability, environment, agriculture and livelihood and more. It aims at recognising and supporting the best in class techno-social innovations that solve the country's most pressing social problems.

With engagement from over 2000 diverse innovators, across 25 states in the country, Shrikant Sinha, CEO, Nasscom Foundation and Dr. Meenu Bhambhani, Vice President & Head - Corporate Social Responsibility, Mphasis, throw some light on how NSIF as a platform has collectively built one of the strongest ecosystems to encourage tech aided development in the country.

Excerpts:

NSIF fosters innovative use of technology to create sustained social impact in collaboration with Mphasis. How has the collaboration with Mphasis helped in this effort?

Meenu Bhambhani: Mphasis firmly believes in the power of technology to create effective solutions in the social sector and has been supporting a number of tech for good programmes as part of their larger CSR efforts in addition to the Nasscom Social Innovation Forum. Mphasis has been a driving force behind creating a social innovation ecosystem and with NSIF, the company has supported causes like education and disability in a big way. Mphasis has been providing with catalytic grants and mentoring support to projects in these areas since the past three years. Over the years, the company has identified a number of strong, innovative tech for good projects to support as a part of their varied CSR endeavours. The experience, so far for the company, has been significantly inspiring, with most projects starting to deliver impressive results. It has been able to bring to the fore its expertise in IT to help innovations and in partnership with Nasscom Foundation, has also been able to find the right mentors to help out NGOs and social innovators in various different areas like project management, marketing, technology, operational efficiency, organisational efficiency, process, quality control, etc.

Shrikant Sinha: To quote an example is SkillTrain, located in Chennai. Tamil Nadu is a social enterprise that provides vocational training through web-based videos to rural school dropouts. The training content is delivered through mobile phones, free of cost, and distributed through rural mobile recharge shops, thereby removing any need for internet connectivity. Currently, the organisation offers training content for 13 vocational courses including mobile repair, electrical repairing, computer hardware repairing, plumbing and masonry. On completion of these courses, the youth are mapped to on the job training certification after assessment. With the support of Mphasis, SkillTrain has been able to train 1,000 students across Jabalpur and Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Thane in Maharashtra. They have also been able to garner 103,000 subscribers through their YouTube channel across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UAE. With the recent launch of their very own mobile application, the organisation aims to aims to scale pan India and increase their impact internationally.

Can you briefly point out a few of the supporting innovations at NSIF?

SS: Yes, the winning innovators will be provided with catalytic grants to scale up their operations and create a larger impact; business mentorship will be provided at various levels and in various domains like marketing, finance, sales, upscaling, need based mentoring etc. to make sure that the winners are able to grow their innovations into products / services that can impact the whole country in the next few years; Technology Support to all innovators who seek to scale up their products using further technology interventions; Investor interface help winners to interface with the interested impact investors from across industries through various innovative interventions like speed dating, direct meetings, exhibitions, etc.

What are the annual initiatives recognised in different sectors? How many projects will be chosen this year?

SS: While we are still to finalise the categories for the current year, the last year categories were: Mphasis Primany and Secondary Education Honours, Primary Healthcare, Mphasis Accessibility Honours, Environment, Accessibility, Livelihood and Agriculture and other social issues. A special category for early stage innovators was also kept to encourage social innovators who have not currently established themselves as an organisation. In total 9 winners were selected from 1300+ applications received from across India.

Witnessing the changing landscape of CSR spends and the way companies are currently investing their CSR money, how far has this move been impactful and sustainable for the growth of social initiatives?

SS: We are seeing that CSR teams from across the industry are increasingly looking at innovative solutions for social problems while giving out grants to the NGOs. The CSR money, has been able to help a lot of the innovative solutions come to the fore and scale up their impact. This has also given the innovators confidence to further ideate and create never thought before solutions to age old problems like sanitation, education, skills, healthcare, etc.

How can social enterprise leverage technology to help citizens lead better lives? How does NSIF support skilling related innovations?

MB: One thing that has created the biggest impact on mankind is technology. Over the decades, technology has changed the way we live and work. Technology has made many things possible; from air travel to talking over the phone, from email to pacemakers, these achievements are countless. Technology, which was a premium and luxury a few decades back, has become the biggest asset for society over time. Today, technology has become a social equalizer and is helping the bottom of the pyramid communities access essential services.

SS: Social enterprises are riding high on the technology proliferation across the country lead by mobiles and the internet. Some of the examples of how social enterprises are using technology in an innovative manner-- Rankskills Knowledge International Pvt Ltd created an online platform to connect graduates from Tier 2 - Tier 3 educational institutes to Start-Ups and SMEs. Callystro Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Created CoBELS - Competency Based Experiential Learning Solution an e learning solution that encourages learning by mapping curriculum into games and activities.

Social innovation combined with 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' can be a very powerful force. Please share your views.

SS: Digital India and Make in India have had a great impact on social innovation across the country. We are now witnessing many rapidly evolving, potentially transformative technologies on the horizon—spanning information technologies, biological sciences, education, healthcare, energy, and other fields. While new technologies continue to surprise us with their vision and possibility, there is a great deal of untapped potential in consistently applying existing technologies to support, and in fact, direct social change. They have given technology the power to disrupt status quo, alter the way people live and work, rearrange value pools, and lead to entirely new products and services to transform the future of a country. In India today, technology has created waves across sectors. There are skilled teachers available in remote areas addressing issues around geographical diversity, proximity, and access. There are solutions that support low income households in rural areas to alter the way they save money, their access to educational tools, accessibility tools created for persons with disabilities, remote diagnostics, portable X-ray machines - experiencing breakthroughs in areas that were untapped until a few years ago.

Source: http://bwdisrupt.businessworld.in/article/Can-Techno-Social-Innovations-Solve-Country-s-Most-Pressing-Social-Problems-/15-07-2017-122206/

Friday, July 14, 2017

Why the elite see NGOs as a threat

With both Parliament and civil society losing their centrality, power elite see NGOs as a threat

The idea of civil society was explicit in the works of Adam Smith and Thomas Paine in the Eighteenth century. But it was also implicit in the concept of lokadharma (as against rajadharma) and in medieval Sufism. It reappeared in public discourse as a corrective to the over-concern with the nation-state in the post-World War II politics. With the experience of Nazi Germany still vivid in public imagination, particularly the memory of the Nazis coming to power through elections, the fear of a misguided majority became a crucial strand in the culture of democracy.

The civil society is a plural and diverse entity, but the idea of civil society is not. There probably are more than half a million NGOs in India today. Many will be surprised to hear that a large majority of them are supported and indirectly controlled by the national or state governments. Others survive on foundation support, transient grants from well-meaning donors and on contracts. All of them may not be serious, but some are. That minority takes the risky and increasingly dangerous decision to engage with local populations and their problems. They are the ones who define what we now call civil society. It is a thin crust of society that represents nobody. Except perhaps those with whom they work. The trust they inspire is more a comment on the distrust of the politicians, bureaucrats and the law-and-order machinery of the state.

The new salience of civil society came due to some obvious changes. First, with the declining health of industrial capitalism, the bargaining power of trade unions began to diminish drastically and as the idea of a welfare state began to lose its shine, many forms of care-taking functions and the protection of the rights of workers began to look secondary in the new environment. The civil society did not have to concoct new causes for which to fight; the causes were waiting to be taken up by anyone with an open mind.

Second, in many Southern democracies, with the emergence of populist demagogues who could expertly use media-intensive campaigns to win elections, Parliaments too began to lose their centrality in politics. Crucial policy decisions began to be taken outside Parliament and many domains that were part of democratic politics were handed over to high-powered experts and technocrats who could now bypass normal politics, seen as a hindrance to efficient governance.

Third, as politics became less participatory, paradoxically it became more election-centred and mainly a vehicle of social mobility. Indeed, winning elections, preparing for elections and campaigning became the primary occupation of politicians. Indeed, it is doubtful if countries like India can be called democracies any more. They have become psephocracies. In the process, the citizens have been reduced to being passive spectators of politics. All that they can do is to vote periodically, see politics on the TV regularly, and write angry letters to the editor in newspapers or inane, abusive blogs to be heard or noticed.

Finally, in Afro-Asian societies, the three changes have coincided with the largescale demise of communities. Older citizens, brought up on a steady diet of statist ideologies, will not consider this a loss. But the result is: the citizens now directly face the state as individuals with no intervening structures like communities, neighbourhoods, clans, sects and castes (which have all become in their new, politicised versions mainly means of bargaining and wheeling dealing organised interests).

The growth and proliferation of the NGOs have taken place in this specific context. They are now doing in their own scattered, disorganised but determined manner what the trade unions, official human rights agencies, women's wings of political parties, conventional science movements, government environmental agencies, formal educational and research institutes, and state-sponsored peace movements will not or cannot do.

Naturally, the established power centres and the state-sponsored institutional structure have no reason to like the NGOs. In an already unpredictable, election-based, media-driven polity, they make politics even more unpredictable. Its critics also see the civil society as threatening to take over the functions that optimistic revolutionaries expected retooled, post-revolutionary states to perform in the nineteenth century. The NGOs rush in where ponderous state machinery and international bodies dare to go. Being locally rooted and small-scale, they can be irresponsible but daring. Sometimes with good results, sometimes not.

This fear of NGOs too is not new and mainly an European legacy. The very presence of a strong contingent of civil society groups has sharpened the cleavage between democracy and freedom left to us by Nineteenth-century Western political thought. The French revolution had left behind a widespread fear of the mob and what the psychology of the mob might do to the institutions of a republic. Many began to prioritise the value of freedom, as defined by the Enlightenment, over those of participatory democracy. Democracy was good, but majoritarian politics had its dangers, their argument went. Democracy, therefore, had to be sometimes protected from itself.

In India, however, this clash between democracy and freedom has come in a different guise. At least three generations of Indian leaders were witnesses to a whole series of despotic regimes in the Southern world, speaking incessantly of the beauties of having an intermediate, preparatory stage for polities reportedly moving towards full-blown democracy. President Ferdinand Marcos of Philippines once buttonholed an Indian economist to tell how he, Marcos, had to, like a strict school teacher, guide the immature, unruly Filipinos towards democracy, for which they were not yet fit. And Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew has advanced the same thesis with much fanfare in recent years. The two had excellent company in a colourful gallery of other worthies from East and West Asia, Africa and South America—from Syngman Rhee in South Korea to the Shah of Iran, from Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central African Republic to Generals Augusto Pinochet and Ayub Khan.

Later, the hostility to the NGOs was to also come from a new commitment to the nation-state. The more the insecure, ill-governed, oppressive Southern states tried to run their authoritarian rule, the more they talked about the secret charms of the nation-state and about the threats to state sovereignty that the irresponsible NGOs posed. For these new statists, the idea of the nation-state now allowed a fuller play to ethnic and religious nationalism, xenophobia, developmental authoritarianism and militarism.

The idea of disciplining the civil society is now becoming the passion of a new generation of ambitious politicians who have run out of ideas. Talk of peace junkies, environment faddists and human rights addicts is now common not only in the high streets but also in the back alleys of power. This has serious implications for the quality of democracy in the entire region. For instance, I suspect that there also is growing public indifference towards the fate of the civil society at a moment when the state sector has been subtly trying to control and monitor a sizeable section of South Asia's 'under-disciplined' civil society, particularly sections dissenting from or even acting as a check on the state.

This is dangerous. The Indian state is no longer a fragile infant that requires nurture and protection. Nor is it anymore a fully grown but sleepy giant unsure of itself. The days of the soft Indian state that Gunnar Myrdal talked about is history now. The Indian state is now capable of taking on not only its external enemies but also its own people and the Indic civilisation itself. And it is trying to do so inspired by ideologies that have little touch with the spirit of the civilization or any of the religious traditions that have thrived in this subcontinent.

It is time to shed the ambivalence towards the civil society, however uncivil or thinly representative the civil society might look at any moment. The largest player in India's freedom movement also began as a small NGO packed with persons wearing three-piece suits and ties. If I might end with a cliché, democracy and freedom can co-survive only when freedom is not defined as the right to agree with or obey the majority. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, we are told, was deeply influenced by Henry David Thoreau's belief that a person more right than his neighbours was in a majority of one.

Source: https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/why-the-elite-see-ngos-as-a-threat

Educating young minds: This NGO takes initiatives to help the lesser privileged in India

Global child development organisation, ChildFund empowers children by providing an integrated package of evidence-based programmes

ChhildFund International, a global child protection and development organisation, has been working in India since 1951 through its unique child-centric programmes, making a difference in millions of lives, especially the underprivileged. Through its Books, My Friends reading improvement programme, ChildFund has set-up over 200 well-equipped libraries in government schools across its implementation areas. Further, to make the reading material more accessible to children, ChildFund has also introduced solar-powered Mobile Libraries — the first one in Bengaluru, sponsored by Axis Bank and solarised by Bajaj Electricals, and the second one in Jharkhand, sponsored by ONGC.

"Given our understanding of the situation and the ground reality, the Books, My Friends programme was conceptualised to not only promote a culture of reading, but also to improve reading abilities and basic literacy in children and the youth belonging to rural and semi-urban areas spread across our country," says Neelam Makhijani, Country Director and CEO, ChildFund India.

Talking about the safety of children, Neelam says that child trafficking cases in India have increased. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 19,223 women and children were trafficked in 2016, compared to 15,448 in 2015. Of the total cases reported in 2016, a 27 percent increase in the number of children trafficked was noted. Neelam also draws attention to the inefficiency of the government to provide a clearer picture of the present scenario.

"The Government of India has policies, laws, programmes, and schemes to protect children from trafficking. It can be further improvised, but there is an urgent need for proper implementation of the existing policies to have a functional and accountable child protection system," she insists, adding, "They should build a conducive and enabling environment so that no child falls out of the safety net and even if they happen to, the system should be able to return them to their normal positive environment."

 

Trafficking is one of the largest industries and India is a hub for trafficking in Asia. Data for trafficking is hard to find as most of such incidents are not reported


Neelam Makhijani, Country Director and CEO, ChildFund India

Source: http://www.edexlive.com/live-story/2017/jul/14/education-young-minds-this-ngo-takes-initiatives-to-help-the-lesser-privileged-in-india-824.html

Top 10 ways to use G Suite in Nonprofits and NGOs

1.            Organize successful fundraising events

Setting up fundraising events can be time-consuming and difficult to coordinate. In the planning phase, keep co-workers in the loop about event details and schedules by creating a team Calendar. Once you're ready to go, publicize your event with Calendar, and add attachments, such as flyers stored in Drive. Then, build an external event website with details, contacts, sign-up Forms, and more using Sites, so attendees can get all their information in one place from any device.

2.            Launch and publicize high-profile campaigns

Raising funds in the nonprofit sector is increasingly competitive, so you need to increase your fundraising campaigns' impact on supporters and potential recruits. Create a website with powerful images and other relevant information in Sites to highlight your organization's mission statement. To increase exposure for your cause, create inspiring presentations using Slides, host video recordings on your organization's official YouTube channel, and target existing and new sponsors using Forms–then embed all these files on your website. When your website is ready to go, promote your campaign on your organization's Google+ page by encouraging members to share innovative ideas and letting volunteers know about different ways they can contribute.

3.            Create winning grant proposals

Create polished funding applications for your nonprofit using Docs. Instantly search for charts, information, and other data with the built-in research tool, without ever leaving your document. Need your co-workers' input on your draft? Share your document to edit (or suggest edits) simultaneously, and get real-time feedback through targeted comments and built-in chat. There's no need for multiple drafts either—use the revision history to see who made which changes and when, or to revert to earlier versions at any time.

4.            Centralize key organizational assets in one website

Want an easier way to manage your nonprofit's administrative information? Keep internal news, blog posts, fundraising drives, campaigns, online forms, training content, and more in one place with Sites. Now your organization has a one-stop destination for all important information, which any employee (or a select group of volunteers) can access anytime, from any device.

5.            Streamline daily operations by going paperless

Manage your day-to-day operations online. With Forms, you can create electronic forms for time-off requests, hardware requests, volunteer sign ups, and more—in just minutes. Track important administrative tasks, such as employee schedules and deadlines in Calendar and Sheets. Then, keep all your content current by storing files in a Drive folder. Just share the folder with your co-workers–if someone edits a file, everyone sees the latest version and can add feedback in real time.

6.            Securely create and manage digital assets

The amount of digital content created and managed by nonprofits continues to grow exponentially. Store and manage rich-media assets, such as images, logos, PDF manuals, and campaign videos using Drive. Drive then syncs to the cloud so everyone's always accessing the most up-to-date content, and its sharing features and access controls make working with external funding agencies simple and secure.

7.            Find and organize important email quickly

When you're organizing fundraising campaigns, compiling funding applications, or sending monthly members' newsletters, it's essential to manage incoming email messages. Use stars to mark certain messages as important, or let Gmail's Priority Inbox automatically sort and prioritize your messages for you so you can focus on the email that matter first. You can even set up filters and labels—such as for specific events or projects—so it's easier to organize, find, and respond to messages.

8.            Quickly recruit, interview, and onboard prospective employees or volunteers

After interested candidates or volunteers submit their information through Forms, you can conduct interviews with your top choices from anywhere in the world with Hangouts. Then, streamline the onboarding process with a Sites website containing checklists, important information, and onboarding tasks.

9.            Train your employees and volunteers, anytime, anywhere

Many nonprofit organizations have employees and volunteers spread across the globe. If you need to train people based in different locations, create a one-stop training website using Sites. Store all your onboarding tasks, organization policies, and other documents in Drive, then embed these stored files in the training site to create a self-service training portal. If you need live training, conduct a virtual class across the globe with Hangouts to save time and travel costs. Then, let everyone know about course schedules in advance by creating and embedding a shared training Calendar in the site.

10.         Communicate quickly with staff and other large groups

Keeping everyone in the loop can be a daunting task, whether you're hosting an internal discussion with staff members or communicating with all of your donors, members, volunteers, supporters, or clients. Groups makes it easy to communicate quickly and effectively with everyone at once. After adding email accounts to a group, you can send an email to everyone in that group with one address, invite the group to an event, or share documents with the group. You can also create an online forum to discuss a popular industry topic or answer questions about your organization.


Please Open your G Suite account now at: https://goo.gl/bP3iTI

Thursday, July 13, 2017

UGC urges varsities, colleges to apply for AIC aid

New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged all public universities and the colleges under them to apply for aid from the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), an innovation funding

New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged all public universities and the colleges under them to apply for aid from the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), an innovation funding scheme formulated by the Niti Aayog last year.

In a letter issued on Wednesday, the central funding agency for the universities asked the latter to "encourage the academic fraternity of your esteemed University and your affiliated colleges" by applying to the scheme, which provides for a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 10 crore for a maximum period of five years.

"The AlCs would nurture innovative start-up businesses in their pursuit to become scalable and suitable enterprises to support enterprises in nationally relevant sectors such as manufacturing, transport, energy, health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation," the UGC letter read.

This is the second such call made by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog for applications.

In the first call made last year, the Aayog had elicited a total of 3,658 applications — including from institutions in government and private sector, and academic and non-academic ventures — from across the country.

Out of this, ten applicants were selected for the aid.

The AIC is a scheme under Atal Innovation Mission, conceived to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The last date to apply for aid under AIC is July 31.

Funding sources: http://niti.gov.in/content/atal-incubation-centres-aics

Guideline: http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Revised%20Final%20Guidelines_AIC-2017.pdf

Apply online at: http://aimapp2.aim.gov.in/aic  

Faqs: http://aimapp2.aim.gov.in/aic/files/FAQ.pdf

Last date of submission: 31st July 2017

Source: http://www.india.com/news/agencies/ugc-urges-varsities-colleges-to-apply-for-aic-aid-2317720/

International Programmes Director

Oxfam GB, Oxford, United Kingdom

Skill Required: Project/ Programme Management

Preferred Experience:

1 to 3 Years

URL for CV Submission:

https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/international-programmes-director-int3636/6370/description/

Job Description

Do you want to lead a globally networked team, forge new and dynamic relationships across sectoral boundaries, influence policy debates, oversee £300m programme spend and play a key role in shaping Oxfam for the future?

Are you a visionary leader, with a deep passion for tackling the roots of injustice and poverty and experience of leading and motivating multicultural, matrix managed teams that deliver outstanding results?

If so, we would like to hear from you.

Working towards our Oxfam 2020 vision sees us currently transitioning into being a more globally networked organisation in which Oxfam GB supports the delivery of a single, shared programme by Oxfam International. Within this context you will take the strategic lead in defining Oxfam GB's contribution to the global shared programme and provide leadership in new networked ways of thinking and working in the International Programmes Team, Oxfam GB and the wider Oxfam family.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a ground-breaking role in shaping Oxfam to make even greater advances in eradicating extreme poverty and gender injustice around the world.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Significant senior leadership experience of managing and motivating multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural and matrix managed teams to deliver outstanding results.
Experience of developing the capacities and capabilities across an organisation so that it thrives as a networked organisation.
A track record of understanding and experience in developing and managing multi-country, large scale, high quality, innovative programming.
Substantial experience of developing and delivering high value institutional funding income.
Proven track record of external representation at the highest levels including understanding of and experience with all forms of media.
Committed to a rights based approach including an active commitment to putting women's rights at the heart of all we do as well as the rights of other marginalised people.
Willingness to travel c.10 weeks per year.

Source:https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/international-programmes-director-int3636/6370/description/

Home ministry hits holy cows; protection groups among 5,992 NGOs under lens

Of the 5,922 that have been issued show-cause notices, 9 are gaushalas, over 100 have Muslim names

The latest home ministry crackdown on non-compliant non-government organisations (NGOs) might have hit some holy cows. The list of 5,922 units which have not filed their annual returns and have been served show-cause notices includes several institutions working for cow protection.

Business Standard went through the list to find at least nine such NGOs that had "gau" or "cow" in their names. These are Shri Haryana Gaushala, Gau Sewa Trust, Shri Gaushala Kathar Jungle, Ratanlal C Bafna Gau Sewa Anusandhan Kendra, Shri Pinjara Pole Gaushala Sewa Trust, Shri Dayalu Gau Jeav Jan Parmarthseva Sansthan Kherapa, Shri Harihar Maharaj Kamdhenu Gaushevashram Dharmik Trust, Sri Panch Dev Mahamandir Gau Sewa Ashram Samiti, and Care For Cows Public Charitable Trust.

The list could have other such organisations, without a giveaway in the names, which are serving the cause of the bovine considered holy by a section of Hindus and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Protection of cows and creating gaushalas were part of the party's manifesto in the Uttar Pradesh polls. The spurt in 'cow love' has fuelled the rise of vigilante groups, which have been accused of involvement in several

Besides, there were about a dozen organisations whose names suggest they worked in the area of animal welfare. Among the minority institutions, over 100 organisations with Islamic/Arabic names have been issued show-cause notices. These included at least five institutions named after Dr Zakir Hussain. Several Madrasas and Islamic educational trusts also received the notices.

The number of NGOs with Islamic names accounted for about 1.7 per cent of the 5,922 that received the show-cause notices. This is slightly lower than the 1.96 per cent recorded in a similar analysis done by Business Standard last year of nearly 14,000 NGOs that had been banned since 2012. The ministry has warned these entities that their FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) licences would be cancelled, if they did not furnish financial records pertaining to a five-year period beginning 2011. The cancellation would mean these cannot receive foreign funds. The NGOs have been given time till July 23 to reply to the notices issued on July 8.

"As a one-time measure, all associations were given an opportunity by way of a public notice requiring the associations to file their missing annual returns pertaining to FY (financial year) 2010-11 to 2014-15 within a period of one month, starting from May 15, 2017 to June 14, 2017, without payment of penalty for filing of annual returns. However, in spite of sufficient and adequate notice, it has been observed that 5,922 associations have not uploaded their annual returns for three or more than three years within the stipulated time given in the notice," the show cause notice said.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/home-ministry-hits-holy-cows-protection-groups-among-5-992-ngos-under-lens-117071400016_1.html

A Second opportunity for GST Workshop in Delhi on 28th July 2017

Dear Colleagues,

Warm Greetings!

We have received overwhelming response to our announcement for "Workshop on Goods and Services Tax (GST) and FCRA Compliance" to be held in Delhi on 19th July 2017. We had to move it to a bigger hall but still could not accommodate everyone. Therefore, we had to close the registration for the workshop to be held on 19th July 2017.

However, here is another opportunity if you have not been able to secure registration to our 19th July workshop. We are now planning to have repeat of this workshop on 28th July 2017 (Friday) at Delhi. Click here to register online.: http://www.fmsfindia.org.in/pdf/GST%20Brochure.pdf

Since we have space constraints, please register early and secure your seat.

The brochure is also attached herewith

With regards

Dr. Sanjay Patra
Executive Director

Modi govt considering jailing NGO heads hiding public funds

The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it might enact a new law that would provide for jail time among other punishments for heads of NGOs that misappropriate government funds. The Supreme Court had previously asked the Centre to consider enacting such a law.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Need law to punish NGO heads hiding public funds, Modi govt tells SC

2. The SC had previously asked Centre to consider law to regulate public funds for NGOs

3. Criminal proceedings must be initiated against such NGOs, SC had said

Heads of NGOs, which misappropriate government funds or do not file annual statement, may soon go to jail or be slapped with hefty fines as penalty.

There could be criminal proceedings for misappropriation and civil action for recovery of given funds.

The Modi government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that a legislation may soon be enacted in this regard and discussions are on at the top level to include a penal provision to punish errant NGOs

"A penal provision needs to be made as it cannot be included in the mere guidelines. A separate regime is required for provision of punishment or fine," Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud.

The ASG's comments came when the CJI said: "This is a very serious issue. Our directions are already there. You just implement it so that the authorities who are overseeing the activities of the NGOs get more teeth."

The SC had in its order in April asked the Centre to examine enacting a law to regulate government funds for NGOs and prosecute them in case of misuse, misappropriation of funds or non-filing of statements.

Passing detailed orders on the PIL by advocate M L Sharma in 2011, to seek a tab on functioning of NGOs, the bench had said mere blacklisting of NGOs who do not file annual statements will not suffice. Criminal proceedings for misappropriation and civil action for recovery of given funds must be initiated.

"Rs950 crore is being given in total to all NGOs every year. This is a phenomenal amount... tax payers money ... since 78 ministries and departments were granting money to NGOs, a law on regulating funds and work by NGOs would be much better. Inform us in eight weeks whether you want to streamline NGOs through guidelines or through legislation," the bench had told the government.

The SC order came after senior lawyer Amucus Dwivedi cited a CBI report that said only 10 per cent of NGOs filed annual income and expenditure statements. Raising the issue of transparency in functioning, the report said that out of 22,39,971 NGOs in 20 states (information from nine states is awaited), only 2,23,428 have filed balance sheets, a paltry 10 per cent.

The Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology, which disburses funds to voluntary organisations, had recommended registration of 159 FIRs against various NGOs for alleged misappropriation or misuse of funds disbursed to them.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-government-considering-jailing-ngo-heads-hiding-public-funds/1/1000854.html

Centre seeks 4 weeks to bring in legislation to regulate NGOs

Centre has already framed guidelines to tighten the noose around NGOs.

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it was considering bringing in a legislation to give more teeth to authorities for regulating over 32 lakh voluntary organisations or NGOs in the country.

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed a bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar that a final decision will be taken in four weeks.

"You have to take a fair decision as we have already passed certain directions in this regard. You have to implement them to give more teeth to the authorities. These are very serious issues," the bench told Mehta, who said he would come back to the court with proper instructions on whether the government wanted to continue with the guidelines or have a legislation.

"Legislation with penal provision will give more teeth to our officials," Mehta told the court, which said the present criminal law was sufficient to deal with defaulting organisations.

Centre has already framed guidelines to tighten the noose around NGOs.

"You have in the past taken criminal and civil action against those who misuse funds. It's not that you cannot act under the present regime," the court said, giving time to the Centre.

In April a high-level committee under the chairmanship of S Vijaykumar, former secretary in the ministry of rural development, framed guidelines and rules for the accreditation of VOs and NGOs.

Under the new guidelines, Niti Aayog has been appointed as the nodal agency for the purpose of registration and accredition of VOs/NGOs seeking funding from the Centre.

The Aayog is also tasked with maintaining a database to manage and disseminate information relating to NGOs and VOs.

A three-tier monitoring system has been instituted to supervise the organisations, which will not get funds through the public fund management system (PFMS).

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-seeks-4-weeks-to-bring-in-legislation-to-regulate-ngos/story-oTdCSLVTzXXx6hiYM1SJQO.html

Regulating NGOs: SC asks Govt whether it intends to bring law

It had said that to regulate the funding and use of grants by the NGOs and VOs, their financial statements will be audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the chartered accountants

New Delhi, Jul 12 The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to either come up with a legislation or implement the new guidelines to give more teeth to authorities for regulating the activities and utilisation of grants by over 32 lakh voluntary organisations or NGOs in the country.

"You have to take a fair decision as we have already passed certain directions in this regard. You have to implement them to give more teeth to the authorities. These are very serious issues," a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud said.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that he needed four weeks to seek instructions as whether the government intends to bring in a legislation, as a decision will have to be taken at a highest level.

The bench said that in such matters, it would not like to push the government for a legislation but it will be appropriate if the government takes a call on the issue.

The apex court said that even without any law, the government can initiate civil and criminal action against the NGOs who misuse government grants.

The bench granted four weeks time to the Centre to file its response.

The Centre had earlier informed the apex court that it has framed new guidelines to regulate the activities of and grants given to the NGOs and voluntary organisations (VOs).

The government has said that a high-level committee under the chairmanship of S Vijaykumar, former secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development, has framed the guidelines and rules for the accredition of VOs/NGOs.

Under the new guidelines, Niti Aayog has been appointed as the nodal agency for the purpose of registration and accredition of VOs/NGOs seeking funding from the Centre, it had said in an affidavit filed on April 5.

The Aayog has been also tasked with maintaining a database to manage and disseminate information relating to NGOs/VOs.It had said that all VOs/NGOs, aspiring to be funded by the government, will have to register themselves in NGO- Darpan online and get a unique ID.

"In future, all funds to NGOs/VOs should be released through the public fund management system (PFMS)," the affidavit had said, adding a three-tier monitoring system would be instituted uniformly for the central government and ministries.

It said that fund-based accounting may be introduced for earmarked or designated funds by the VOs/NGOs and all grants received from the governments should be separately accounted for.

It had said that to regulate the funding and use of grants by the NGOs and VOs, their financial statements will be audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the chartered accountants.

The Centre had also barred the appointment of auditors if they were in any way related or had business interests with the office-bearers of the VOs/NGOs. The guidelines also stipulated disciplinary procedures in case of misappropriation of funds or breach of trust by the NGOs/VOs.

The guidelines were taken on record by the apex court.

Source: https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/regulating-ngos-sc-asks-govt-whether-it-intends-to-bring-law/1097456

Govt seeks four weeks to consider law to regulate NGOs' fund utilisation

The government on Wednesday sought four weeks' time to consider framing a law to systematise the accreditation, fund utilisation and audit of nearly 30 lakh NGOs and voluntary organisations in the country, and possibly, arming authorities with penalising powers in case of any default.

Appearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said a decision has to be taken at the highest level regarding this issue.

In April, the Bench had suggested the framing of a separate law after perusing draft guidelines made by the government appointing NITI Aayog as nodal agency for NGOs.

The Ministry of Rural Development had framed the accreditation guidelines to regulate "manner in which the VOs/NGOs, which are recipient of grants, would maintain their account, the procedure for audit of the account, including procedure to initiate action for recovering of the grants in case of misappropriation and criminal action".

The court had given the government liberty to start civil and criminal proceedings against defaulting NGOs.

It was submitted in court that 718 NGOs had been initially blacklisted, but 15 had responded satisfactorily to notices issued on them.

CBI records filed in 2016 in the Supreme Court had shown show that only 2, 90,787 NGOs file annual financial statements of a total of 29,99,623 registered ones under the Societies Registration Act. That is, merely a 10 percent.

In some States, the CBI said the laws do not even provide for the NGOs to be transparent about their financial dealings. In the Union Territories, of a total of 82,250 NGOs registered and functioning, only 50 file their returns.

New Delhi has the highest number of registered NGOs among the Union Territories at 76,566. But none of these organisations submit returns, the CBI chart showed. In Kerala, which has 3,69,137 NGOs, there is no legal provision to submit returns. The same is the case for Punjab with 84,752 and Rajasthan with 1.3 lakh NGOs.

Among other States, Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of NGOs at 5.48 lakh among 26 States, has only about 1.19 lakh filing returns. Tamil Nadu has about 1.55 lakh NGOs registered, however, only 20,277 file returns. Andhra Pradesh has 2.92 lakh NGOs, but only 186 file financial statements annually. West Bengal has 2.34 lakh registered NGOs, of which only 17,089 active NGOs file annual returns.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-seeks-four-weeks-to-consider-law-to-regulate-ngos-fund-utilisation/article19263239.ece

SC tells govt to decide on regulating NGOs in four weeks

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, alleging misuse of funds by Anna Hazare's NGO Hind Swaraj Trust <br>

The apex court on Wednesday gave four weeks to Centre to examine bringing in a legislation to regulate funds for NGOs. or make provisions for prosecution in the event of misuse or misappropriation of funds or non-filing of annual statements.

The top court's direction follows the submission made by Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that certain instructions were required to be taken "from the top level" to bring in a legislation or draft some guidelines and also include some penal provisions.

The court was hearing the writ petition filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, alleging misuse of funds by Anna Hazare's NGO Hind Swaraj Trust. It had earlier expanded the scope of Sharma's PIL plea to include the status of all NGOs.

"See, these are serious issues. Make a fair decision. Our direction is already there. Just implement it to give the authorities more teeth," a bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar told the ASG, as reported by Livelaw.in. The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate ML Sharma for keeping a tab on the functioning of the NGOs.

According to the report, the bench earlier expressed unhappiness over the proposed guidelines to keep a tab on the nearly 30 lakh NGOs in the country, saying "it may not meet the enormity of the situation due to the non-accountability of the funds given to the NGOs."

On direction from the bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who submitted the draft guidelines, had handed over a copy to Amicus curiae Rakesh Dwivedi for including his suggestions and inputs, the report added.

Previously, in January, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Centre for no provision to monitor the funding of NGOs. It directed the government to audit nearly 30 lakh NGOs which received public funds but consistently failed to submit their returns or balance sheets and other financial details to the authorities.

The Supreme Court demanded that the government file a compliance report by March 31. On April 5, the Centre had submitted to the Supreme Court fresh draft guidelines for accreditation of NGOs and voluntary organisations.

CBI records filed in the Supreme Court show that only 2,90,787 NGOs out of a total of 29,99,623 registered under the Societies Registration Act file balance sheet with the authorities.

In some states, the CBI said the laws do not even provide for the NGOs to be transparent about their financial dealings.

In the Union Territories, out of a total of 82,250 NGOs registered and functioning, only 50 file their returns.

New Delhi has the highest number of registered NGOs among the union territories at 76,566. But none of these organisations submit returns, the CBI chart showed. In Kerala, which has 3,69,137 NGOs, there is no legal provision to submit returns. The same is the case for Punjab, with 84,752, and Rajasthan, with 1.3 lakh NGOs.

Among other States, Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of NGOs at 5.48 lakh among 26 states, has only about 1.19 lakh filing returns. Tamil Nadu has about 1.55 lakh NGOs registered but only 20,277 file returns. Andhra Pradesh has 2.92 lakh NGOs, though only 186 file financial statements annually. West Bengal has 2.34 lakh registered NGOs, of which only 17,089 active NGOs file annual returns.

Source: https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/corruption/sc-tells-govt-to-decide-on-regulating-ngo-in-four-weeks

India’s Red Card to 6,000 NGOs Can Impact Ties With the West

India's Home Ministry has issued notices to nearly 6,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving foreign funding for failing to file annual tax returns for the last five years.

"However, in spite of sufficient and adequate notice, it has been observed that 5,922 associations have not uploaded their annual returns for three or more than three years within the stipulated time given in the notice," the circular said.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The ministry's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) division served the show cause notices to 5,922 NGOs. The reason: these organizations have not filed mandatory annual income and expenditure records from 2010-11 to 2014-15, despite repeated notices. Now, the government has put the ball in their court, asking why their license shouldn't be cancelled.

The NGOs were required to file their annual tax returns until June 14 without paying any fine, as directed in a circular issued by the home ministry.

The government had asked 18,523 NGOs to respond with details of their income and expenses in May. Now, these organizations will have to furnish their replies by July 23, failing which it will be presumed that they have nothing to say and action will be taken as per FCRA norms.

Some of the prominent names in the Home Ministry list include Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, the Indira Gandhi National Open University, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, Mayo College Central Council Society, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Delhi College of Engineering, Punjabi University (Patiala), Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Khadi Gramodyog Samiti and Oxfam Trust.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has faced criticism for targeting the NGO sector and since 2015, the government has canceled registration of over 10,000 organizations under FCRA.

The Modi government's measures to ensure greater compliance from the NGO sector has garnered attention in the West as well, with many US-based civil society organizations' operations curtailed or completely shut down.

In March this year, influential Congressman and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce and more than 100 members of the US Congress had written to India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh, asking him to allow US-based charity Compassion International to continue its work in India.

Source: https://sputniknews.com/asia/201707121055464161-india-ngo-west-ties/

Decision in 4 weeks on new law to regulate NGOs, their funding: Govt

New Delhi: The NDA government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that a decision would be taken within four weeks on the need for a standalone law to regulate activities, funding and expenditure of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lakhs of which have mushroomed across the country.

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the decision has to be taken at the highest level and sought four weeks to inform the court about it. A bench of CJI J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said, "The issue is very serious. We do not want to push the government... Whether you want to enact a separate legislation or not, you have to take a decision."

"Previously, we found that not many have filed audited accounts. The government has already initiated civil and criminal proceedings against defaulting NGOs. So, it is not as if there is no legal framework available to take action," it said.

Petitioner-cum-advocate M L Sharma said that till date, not a single NGO was prosecuted "because 90% of NGOs are owned either by politicians or linked to bureaucrats". On January 10, the SC had ordered governments to scrutinise accounts of lakhs of NGOs and voluntary organisations, which together received thousands of crores of rupees of public funds, and take civil and criminal action if they were found to have misused the grants. On April 5, the Centre had filed in the SC the draft guidelines to regulate NGOs and said all such organisations, which intended to receive funds from governments, must register afresh online with Niti Aayog's 'NGO-Darpan' portal giving details of its past work, fund utilisation, yearly audit reports and key persons responsible for managing the NGO.

"The registration system should facilitate seamless operation of applicable provisions of Income Tax Act and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) with respect to NGOs without the need for cumbersome and intrusive processes, which create mutual distrust and scope for misuse," the draft guidelines said.

Another provision in the guidelines intends to deter non-serious NGOs from seeking government funds. It mandates NGOs and its office-bearers to execute a bond, equivalent to the fund amount received, promising to refund to the government with 10% interest the entire amount if the funds were found misused, misappropriated or not used for the purpose for which they were sanctioned.

The CBI had informed the SC that it had detected 32.97 lakh registered NGOs and voluntary organisations but less than 10% of them, 3.07 lakh, filed their audited accounts with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
 
The CBI was directed to find out the number of NGOs on a PIL filed by Sharma, who had accused Anna Hazare's NGO of misappropriating funds allotted by the Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (Capart). The court said the problem of NGOs with no accountability was a much larger issue than the Rs 5 crore grant given to Hazare's NGO.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/decision-in-4-weeks-on-new-law-to-regulate-ngos-their-funding-govt/articleshow/59569189.cms

SC gives Centre four weeks to decide on regulating NGOs

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the central government four weeks' time to decide how to regulate the funding and functioning of the NGOs and voluntary organisations

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the central government four weeks' time to decide how to regulate the funding and functioning of the NGOs and voluntary organisations — a large number of which are found to be functioning in breach of the rules.

The bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud sought a response from the government as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that a decision on whether to enact a law or frame guidelines for regulating the funding and functioning of the NGOs would be taken at highest level at the earliest.

Making it clear that it would not like to push the government on the course it may adopt for regulating the NGOs — overwhelming number of which are flouting the norms, the bench said it would be appropriate if government took a call on the matter.

Telling ASG Mehta that misuse of public funds by the NGOs could not be allowed, the court said it was not the absence of law on regulating the funding and functioning of the NGOs and voluntary organisations that prevented in initiating proceedings against errant NGOs.

The top court in the last hearing in the matter on April 26 had asked the Centre to consider putting in place a statutory regime to regulate registration, funding, compliance and audit of the NGOs getting state support.

The court said this during the hearing of a PIL by Advocate M.L. Sharma, who has sought probe into the alleged misuse of funds given to NGO Hind Swaraj run by anti-corruption crusader Ana Hazare.

However, later the scope of the PIL was expanded to look into the funding of the NGOs by the state and their accountability mechanism.

Following a direction by the top court, a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) found that of the 32 lakh NGOs, only three lakh submitted their audited accounts to the authorities.

Source: http://www.india.com/news/agencies/sc-gives-centre-four-weeks-to-decide-on-regulating-ngos-2315816/

FCRA department has issued show cause notice

Recently, FCRA has issued show cause notice to 5992 NGOs asking for reasons why their FCRA registration may not cancel.

Earlier in this May, FCRA has issued list of organizations, who have not filled FC returns online for previous year or years. And give them opportunities to update the same as early as possible. Also after that, 5992 organizations have not updated their FC returns and thus final show cause notice issued to them.

Download Notice from here: https://fcraonline.nic.in/home/PDF_Doc/Show_Cause_08072017.pdf

Download List of 5992 NGOs from here: https://fcraonline.nic.in/home/PDF_Doc/Show_Cause_List_08072017.pdf

It is also mentioned that, these organization have to give their reply in email to 
fcrarenewal-mha@gov.in within 15 days.

 

NO GST on NGOs for Charitable Activities

Are you worried about GST? Here are eleven clarifications to help you sleep better:

1. Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies only to business activities. It is not applicable where an NGO provides goods or services to others as part of its charitable activities or at nominal prices. It is also not applicable on grants received by NGOs.

2. Some NGOs also sell products or charge market-based fees for various services. If the NGO's total intrastate turnover from these taxable supplies is below Rs. 20 lakh p.a. (Rs. 10 lakh in hill states), then GST will not be applicable. Intrastate turnover means that these supplies are made to customers within the state.

3. If an NGO sells goods or provides services to anyone outside its state, the NGO must register for GST. In such cases, it does not matter that the total turnover is below the threshold of Rs. 10/ 20 lakh.

4. If you were already registered for VAT or service tax, then you must register for GST also.

5. If an NGO is registered under GST, it must pay GST on all taxable supplies made by it. Remember, this does not include grants for charitable activities.

6. If the NGO provides any goods or services (e.g. training or group formation) to a donor, then GST would be attracted.

7. If an NGO displays business logo etc. of a corporate donor in a prominent manner, then GST will be attracted.

8. If an NGO is registered for GST, then it must also pay reverse charge on services or goods received from unregistered vendors. This includes consultants, caterers, shopkeepers, etc. if they are not registered under GST. Casual supplies (<Rs. 5,000 in a day) from micro-vendors are excluded from reverse charge.

9. Reverse charge is deductible from GST payable as Input Tax Credit.

10. Education and medical services are not chargeable to GST. Export of services is charged at zero-rate, but is counted towards total turnover.

11. There is no general exemption from GST for supplies purchased by NGOs.


Please share this with your friends as an act of charity. No GST will be charged on such sharing.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

ବିଦେଶୀ ଅନୁଦାନ ହରାଇବେ ୬୦୦୦ ଏନଜିଓ !

ନୂଆଦିଲ୍ଲୀ : ଦେଶର ପ୍ରାୟ ୬୦୦୦ ଏନଜିଓ (ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାସେବୀ ସଂଗଠନ) ବିଦେଶୀ ଅନୁଦାନ ହରାଇବାର ଆଶଙ୍କା ଉପୁଜିଛି । ବିଗତ ପାଞ୍ଚବର୍ଷର ଆୟବ୍ୟୟ ହିସାବ ଦାଖଲ କରିନଥିବାରୁ ଜୁଲାଇ ୮ରେ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସ୍ୱରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ମନ୍ତ୍ରାଳୟ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ଏହି ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାସେବୀ ସଂଗଠନଗୁଡିକୁ କାରଣ ଦର୍ଶାଅ ନୋଟିସ ଜାରି କରାଯାଇଛି । ଜୁଲାଇ ୨୩ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ଜବାବ ଦାଖଲ କରିବାକୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ଦେଶ ଦିଆଯାଇଛି । ଯଦି ସେମାନଙ୍କର କୈଫିୟତ ସନ୍ତୋଷଜନକ ନହୁଏ ତେବେ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଲାଇସେନ୍ସକୁ ବାତିଲ କରାଯିବ । ଏହାଫଳରେ ସଂପୃକ୍ତ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାସେବୀ ସଂଗଠନଗୁଡିକ ବିଦେଶୀ ଅନୁଦାନ ପାଇବାରୁ ବଞ୍ଚିତ ହେବେ ବୋଲି ମନ୍ତ୍ରାଳୟର ଜଣେ ବରିଷ୍ଠ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି । ଜୁନ ୧୪ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ଆୟ ବ୍ୟୟ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତ ହିସାବ ଦାଖଲ କରିବାକୁ ଚଳିତବର୍ଷ ମେ'ରେ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ୧୮୫୨୩ଟି ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାସେବୀ ସଂଗଠନକୁ ଥରକ ପାଇଁ ସୁଯୋଗ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିଲା । ବିଦେଶୀ ଅନୁଦାନ (ନିୟାମକ) ଆଇନ (ଏଫସିଆରଏ) ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଏହି ସଂଗଠନଗୁଡିକ ପଞ୍ଜୀକୃତ ହୋଇଛି । ଏହାକୁ ଆଧାର କରି ସେମାନେ ବିଦେଶରୁ ଅନୁଦାନ ପାଇଥାନ୍ତି । ତେବେ ଏହି ସଂଗଠନଗୁଡିକ ବିଗତ ପାଞ୍ଚବର୍ଷର ଆୟ ବ୍ୟୟ ହିସାବ ଦାଖଲ କରିବାକୁ ମନ୍ତ୍ରାଳୟ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ମାସକ ପାଇଁ ସମୟ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିଲା । ଏପରିକି ଇମେଲ, ଏସଏମଏସ ଆଲର୍ଟ ଜରିଆରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିୟମିତ ବ୍ୟବଧାନରେ ସୂଚୀତ କରାଯାଇଥିଲା । ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାପ୍ତ ସମୟ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ଏହି ସଂଗଠନଗୁଡିକ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରିତ ସମୟ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ୫୯୨୨ଟି ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାସେବୀ ସଂଗଠନ ବିଗତ ତିନି ବର୍ଷ କିମ୍ବା ତଦୁଦ୍ଧ୍ୱର୍ ସମୟର ଏହି ହିସାବ ଦାଖଲ କରିନାହାନ୍ତି । ତେଣୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଏଫ୍‌ସିଆରଏ ଲାଇସେନ୍ସ କାହିଁକି ବାତିଲ କରାନଯିବ, ସେ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜବାବ ଦାଖଲ କରିବାକୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନୋଟିସ ଜାରି କରାଯାଇଛି । ଜୁଲାଇ ୨୩ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ଜବାବ ଦାଖଲରେ ବ୍ୟତିକ୍ରମ ଘଟିଲେ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଲାଇସେନ୍ସ ରଦ୍ଦ ହେବା ସୁନିଶ୍ଚିତ ।  

ଏନଜିଓ ସ୍ଵଛାସେବୀ କ୍ଷେତ୍ର — ବିକାଶପିଡିଆ

Please visit for Odisa information's related to NGO activities at:  

How can NGOs become more credible watchdogs?

Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are indispensable watchdogs against corrupt practices and global challenges found in complex, modern societies. Yet sometimes, NGOs themselves can struggle to live up to the ambitious standards they demand of others, such as responsible advocacy, ethical fundraising, and meaningful participation of stakeholders. In this piece, Prize Fellow Stefan Hielscher and his co-authors Jan Winkin and Ingo Pies discuss their recently published research, which suggests that strengthening the rules of "fair competition" among NGOs is a promising avenue to increase their credibility.

Stereotyping by NGOs

With so many causes competing for attention from the public, it's perhaps inevitable that NGOs may opt for shock tactics. Some controversial tactics can be very effective in raising public attention, gaining member support and securing funding, "Poverty pornography" provides a telling example. Critical observers invoke the term to describe the use of shocking but misleading imagery in NGOs' fundraising campaigns, such as the notorious "potbellied child." Critics claim such campaigns conceal the root causes of poverty, misdirect well-intentioned help, and violate the dignity of those in need. The website Rusty Radiator collects a variety of impressively frustrating examples, awarding the "fundraising video with the worst use of stereotypes" on an annual basis.

Granted, poverty porn is an extreme example. But it is the case that NGOs are sometimes tempted to simplify messages, thereby misrepresenting complex issues, and this may result in the root causes of the problem being misunderstood. For example, recent research reveals serious inconsistencies in advocacy positions related to the global food crisis in 2008. Before the food crisis, NGOs claimed that low food prices would promote poverty and hunger in rural areas in developing countries. After the food crisis, however, the very same NGOs claimed that high food prices cause hunger and poverty in urban areas in developing countries.

NGOs and responsible advocacy

To address challenges to their accountability and strengthen their credibility, in 2008 the international NGO elite founded "Accountable Now" (AN). Responsible advocacy is one of 12 agreed-upon accountability standards, and includes fact checks and clear procedures for advocacy positions. A complaints handling mechanism was designed to give stakeholders a voice to critique misrepresented interests or other questionable advocacy practices. A 2016 survey by AN of members and non-members however, revealed sobering results. NGOs seem to fare quite poorly in "stakeholder responsiveness" and "responsible advocacy." Only about 10% of NGOs responded to complaints raised by AN's evaluation team in a blind test, and many NGOs lacked robust fact checks and clear procedures to adopt or exit advocacy positions.

How competition affects NGO behaviour

Why is it that even member NGOs struggle to comply with AN's standards? Our research suggests that NGOs operate in a highly competitive environment, all seeking funding, members and media attention. All these are necessary, but scare resources, and the competition for these can impede responsible advocacy.

NGOs are facing a "social dilemma" here. They can either choose the easy option and seek out attention without worrying too much about potential negative side-effects, or present a measured view which incorporates the best available knowledge on a controversial issue. The danger is that by taking the easy option, other NGOs will follow suit to secure their piece of the pie. As a result, the whole third sector's reputation and credibility as a promotor of social change is put at risk.

Creating an enabling environment for responsible advocacy

Can we expect NGOs to refrain from this kind of race-to-the-bottom competition, and to engage in responsible advocacy on a voluntary basis? While some international "giant" NGOs may have the resources to take the moral high ground, some smaller NGOs are facing much stronger threats to their survival. For some of them, every successful fundraising campaign counts. Some NGOs will be able do the right thing only if the organisational benefits outweigh the associated costs. They will need to be sure that their competitors for public attention will follow suit in responsible advocacy.

This is why Accountable Now is such an important initiative. NGOs need to establish their own regulatory framework to raise standards for the whole sector. Within the AN's NGO community, some voices are demanding stronger leadership to make this happen. Others are looking more towards external monitoring.

Our research has found that to be effective, both strategies need be designed so as to create a more enabling environment for NGOs and therefore to improve the cost-benefit balance. Effective monitoring of stereotyping campaigns requires graduated "reputational sanctions," for example by raising public awareness of bad examples. Conversely, AN could reward best practice with public attention, by, for example, awarding prizes for responsible advocacy to leading NGOs.

There are no ready made solutions for these issues. It is important for NGOs, though, to acknowledge that they are not spared from the adverse impact of competition just because they are siding with the weak, the marginalized, the neglected and the poor. The insight of economics also applies here: good intentions need be supported by appropriate incentives, to do the right thing and to do things right.

Image by Howard Lake

Source: http://blogs.bath.ac.uk/business-and-society/2017/07/12/ngo-credible-watchdogs/

Petitioner: 90% of suspect NGOs belong to political parties and bureaucrats

Advocate Manohar Lal Sharma brought to light a startling fact at the Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 12).  In the case emanating from his PIL alleging that funds allocated in the form of financial aids and grants to various NGOs – including one of Kishan Baburao (Anna Hazare) – were being misused, Sharma submitted that no action has been taken till date because "90 percent of the NGOs belong to political parties and bureaucrats".

The case is being heard by the bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud.

Sharma's PIL said funds allocated were misappropriated. In the last hearing the court had ordered that the public funds dispersed needs to be properly audited in consonance with rules. The court suggested to the Union of India on January 10 that guidelines be framed before money is given to NGOs.

The court also said that guidelines should also be there for the manner in which the accounts were to be maintained by the NGOs and eventually the process of auditing the utilisation of the funds.

All this was needed to formulate a procedure for recovering dispersed grants in case of misappropriation. On Wednesday one Mr Dey, representing Union of India, said the guidelines prepared by Union of India were sent to 76 different ministries and departments.

This was done to obtain the views of those departments which are all related to the disbursement of funds to NGOs.

It is also apparent from the factual position indicated above that the process to initiate criminal action has commenced. The affidavit of CAPART clearly depicts that facilities and infrastructure are insufficient to take meaningful action in respect of the finances dispersed to NGOs.

It was also pointed out that CAPART is only one of the agency, representing the ministry of rural development, whereas 76 different ministries are involved in dispersing funds.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked for time to seek instructions from the government and to comply with earlier orders.

The matter has been adjourned for four weeks.

—India Legal Bureau

Source: http://www.indialegallive.com/news-of-the-day/news/petitioner-90-suspect-ngos-belong-political-parties-bureaucrats-30072

For more NGO News please visit: http://www.indialegallive.com/topic/ngo