BVCON - 15 Role of NGO in Rural Development Prof. D. S. Jadhav Assistant Professor, Dr. SET’S Arts and Commerce College, Ugar-Khurd. Abstract: In India, the scope of development is not narrow but very wide, as it includes not just the economic development but the growth on social front, quality of life, empowerment, women and child development, education and awareness of its citizens. To achieve this, a holistic vision and collaborative efforts involving various departments, agencies and even NGOs is required. NGOs or Non-Governmental Organizations have more benefits of working in rural areas as compared to governmental organizations because NGOs are more flexible, NGOs are specific to a particular locality and moreover these are committed towards serving the public and community as a whole. Introduction: economic development but the growth on social NGOs are difficult to define, and the term front, quality of life, empowerment, women and 'NGO' is rarely used consistently. As a result, there child development, education and awareness of its are many different classifications in use. The most citizens. The task of development is so huge and common focus is on 'orientation' and 'level of complicated that just implementing government operation'. An NGO's orientation refers to the type plans is not sufficient to fix the problem. To achieve of activities it takes on. These activities might this, a holistic vision and collaborative efforts include human rights, environmental, or involving various departments, agencies and even development work. An NGO's level of operation NGOs is required. Owing to such a great need, the indicates the scale at which an organization works, number of NGOs in India is increasing rapidly and, such as local, regional, national or international. at present, there are about 25,000 to 30,000 active The term "non-governmental organization" NGOs in India. was first coined in 1945, when the United Nations Superficially, rural development seems to be a (UN) was created. The UN, itself an inter- simple task but, in reality, it is not. Post- governmental organization, made it possible for Independence era has seen many rural development certain approved specialized international non- programmes through different five-year plans. state agencies—i.e., non-governmental Alleviating poverty, employment generation, more organizations—to be awarded observer status at its opportunities for generating income, and assemblies and some of its meetings. Later the term infrastructure facilities are emphasized through the became used more widely. Today, according to the policies and programmes of the government. Along UN, any kind of private organization that is with this, the panchayat raj institutions have also independent from government control can be been initiated by the government to strengthen the termed an "NGO", provided it is not-for-profit, democracy at grass roots level. But in spite of all the non-criminal and not simply an opposition political efforts rural poverty, unemployment rate, low party. production still exists. The fight is still on for the basic facilities such as livelihood security, \NGOs and Rural Development in India: sanitation problem, education, medical facilities, In India, the scope of development is not roads, etc. Still there is a huge gap in terms of narrow but very wide, as it includes not just the infrastructure that is available in urban and rural ISBN No. : 978-81-906732-6-6 114 BVDU IMRDA, SANGLI BVCON - 15 areas. The basic rural development should include change was not a tough task for them. all these apart from employment, proper water Owing to this, in the eighth five-year plan, supply and other basic facilities. more importance to NGOs for rural development in NGOs or Non-Governmental Organizations India had been given. Under this scheme, a nation- have more benefits of working in rural areas as wide NGO network had been created. The role of compared to governmental organizations because these agencies was the rural development at a low NGOs are more flexible, NGOs are specific to a cost. particular locality and moreover these are In the ninth five-year plan, it has been committed towards serving the public and proposed that NGOs would play a significant role community as a whole. As the task of development in the development on the public-private is massive, many NGOs are playing vital role in the partnership model. More scope has been provided rural development of India in collaboration with the to NGOs by the government for rural development government. through the agricultural development policies as well as their implementation mechanisms. NGOs in India: As with every five-year plan, the role of NGOs Since ancient times, social service has been an in the rural development of India is growing, so integral part of Indian culture. Soon after NGOs are now attracting professionals from Independence, a number of NGOs had emerged in different fields. NGOs act as planners and India. Mahatma Gandhi even pleaded to dissolve implementers of developmental plans. They help in the Indian National Congress and transform it to a mobilizing the local resources to be used for Lok Seva Sangh (Public Service Organization). development. NGOs help in building a self-reliant Though his plea was rejected, but the followers of and sustainable society. These agencies play the Mahatma Gandhi started many voluntary agencies role of mediator between people and government. to work on various social as well as economic NGOs are actually the facilitator of development, issues of the country. This was the first phase of education and professionalization. NGOs in India. The second phase of NGO development Hurdles in the way to rural development: started in 1960 when it was felt that just the A major problem that NGOs are facing in India government programs were not sufficient to is their dependency upon government funds or complete the task of development in rural areas. external donations. With this dependency, NGOs Many groups were formed whose role was to work are less flexible in carrying out their task as most of at grass root levels. Moreover, favorable state the tasks depend upon funds. Moreover, the policies had drastically affected the formation of structures of NGOs have become bureaucratic in NGOs and their roles at that time. Over the years, nature leading to a decreased effectiveness in the the role of NGOs in rural development of India overall development. increased. At present too, their role significantly Then the traditional thinking of rural people, changes with the change in the policies of the their poor understanding, and low level of government through different plans. education for comprehending new technology and In the sixth five-year plan (1980-1985), a new role efforts, lack of awareness are people related hurdles for NGOs in the rural development had been that NGOs are facing. Villages also lack identified by the government. In the seventh five- infrastructure facilities like water, electricity, year plan (1985-1990), the Indian government educational institutes, communication facilities envisaged an active role of NGOs in developing that leads to their slow development. self-reliant communities. These groups were Apart from these, there are certain problems supposed to show how the village resources along like economics such as high cost technology, with human resource, skill, local knowledge that is underprivileged rural industries, social and cultural greatly underutilized could be used for their own differences, conflicts between different groups, development. As NGOs were working in close administrative problems like political interference, connection with local people so bringing such a lack of motivation and interest act as hurdles on the ISBN No. : 978-81-906732-6-6 115 BVDU IMRDA, SANGLI BVCON - 15 way to rural development in India. But in spite of all CNRI is an apex body with over 2,000 member- the hurdles, NGOs will keep on working for rural NGOs engaged in multifarious activities ranging development in India. NGOs selectively utilized from self-help group formation, income the local talent, train the individuals and use this for generation, marketing, and agency work for rural development. But the complete success of the insurance companies for life and non-life products rural development actually depends upon the and for banks and financial institutions to willingness and active participation of rural people environment protection, watershed management, in the development processes and efforts. handicrafts, textiles, traditional medicinal plants and HR development. It is completing one year of Impediments in the way to Rural Development: its existence. To mark the celebration of one year of In operational context the major issues facing its service to NGOs, CNRI is hosting a three-day by the NGOs are the lack of qualified individuals national meet - `Advantage Rural India' - from who would like to work in the rural areas. Another April 17. major problem that NGOs are facing in India is their dependency upon government funds or Special Sessions: external donations. With this dependency, NGOs The meet will feature sessions on NGO/SHG are less flexible in carrying out their task as most of products, finance and marketing, rural the tasks depend upon funds. Moreover, the connectivity, energy needs and new technologies, structures of NGOs have become bureaucratic in employment opportunities for rural youth, role of nature leading to a decreased effectiveness in the NGOs in the field of rural education, experience overall development. Then the traditional thinking sharing with the performing NGOs in the field of of rural people, their poor understanding because of organic farming, value-added agriculture, food high rate of illiteracy for comprehending new processing, animal husbandry, environment, technology and efforts, lack of awareness among forests and natural resource management. The people related hurdles that NGOs are facing. Union Minister for Rural Development, Dr. Villages also lack infrastructure facilities like Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, will inaugurate the water, electricity, educational institutes, meet; the Union Home Minister, Mr.