World NGO Day: NGO's evolving role in society

February 27 is observed as World NGO Day to recognise and honour the not-for-profit entities that work relentlessly for the welfare of society. The day is celebrated to inspire people to involve more with charity work at NGOs and to encourage an enhanced partnership between NGOs, the public sector and private organisations.

What are NGOs?

An NGO is a non-governmental organisation or a voluntary association of individuals addressing issues such as human rights and environmental protection. They may even provide services to support a cause and advocate public policies. However, criminal or violent guerrilla organisations are not counted under NGOs.

Most not-for-profit organisations are small, grassroots organisations that are not formally associated with any international entity or Government but may receive their support for local programmes. However, in some cases, funding from the Government together with local information and technical expertise from the NGOs help welfare programmes yield better results.

For instance, in the case of the Indian Government’s Mid-Day Meal Programme (now called the PM Poshan Abhiyaan), Government aid helps NGOs nourish more children from Government and Government-aided schools, while continuously working on improving the amount and quality of nutrition they receive.

History of NGOs

Although the United Nations (UN) observed the first World NGO Day in 2014, NGOs have existed for centuries. The term ‘nongovernmental organisation’ was coined when the UN was founded in 1945 to differentiate private entities from intergovernmental organisations (IGOs). After World War 2, NGOs proliferated at the international, national and regional levels.

In India, the culture of voluntarily helping others in need existed for centuries and was linked to spiritual salvation. Many Indian rulers are also known for their frequent acts of generosity and charity because of their concern towards their subjects.

Around the late 18th and 19th centuries, nationalist consciousness and self-help for collective growth gave rise to socio-political movements in the nation. In 1860, the Societies Registration Act (SRA) was approved that multiplied the growth of NGOs further. They worked towards reducing poverty, constructing public infrastructure and other similar initiatives to meet the necessities of education, health, relief and social welfare.

Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India in 1916 marked the dawn of development activities towards economic self-sufficiency. In 1953, the Central Social Welfare Board was established to encourage initiatives for social welfare activities and people’s participation programs. It then led to the founding of the National Community Development Program and the National Extension Service.

With further decentralisation and the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in 1958, many farmers’ unions and agricultural cooperatives sprung up. During this year, the Association for Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development (AVARD) was also founded.

Role of NGOs in modern India

Today, India has over 3 million NGOs, some of which focus on providing the essentials of food, shelter, hygiene products and education. They also:

• draw attention to ongoing problems • check on activities of the Government and private entities • research, plan and work with local authorities to implement welfare schemes at the grassroots level• collaborate at local, national and international levels

During crises situations, their support through relief activities saves millions of lives. They become a medium for close to 1.4 billion people in India to come together and help those in need.

One of their most noteworthy qualities is operating consistently for long-term results. Hence, many established NGOs in India today are recognised as implementing partners of Government programmes.

For instance, Akshaya Patra is an NGO that implements the Government’s Mid-Day Meal Programme and the Anganwadi Feeding Programme. As a result, this internationally recognised NGO helps over 2 million children eat healthy and attend school regularly in India.

Corporate Social ResponsibilityIndia became the first nation to make corporate social responsibility mandatory in April 2014. Consequently, the country's NGO operations rose due to the increased demand for enterprises to implement CSR efforts. They either donated a portion of their income to support social programmes or sent employee groups to volunteer at NGOs in India. In any event, this greatly increased people's willingness to engage in social change.

Tax Exemption DonationsThe Central Government also provides incentives for citizens to donate. For instance, giving to a charity organisation in India registered under the Income Tax Act qualifies all taxpayers for a 50% or 100% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Act. It has successfully boosted charity endeavours among people and businesses across the nation. However, taxpayers must keep in mind that all donations are not eligible for 80G deductions.

Technology and NGOsNGOs today are not dull spaces but are equipped with the latest technology that boost the effectiveness of welfare programmes.For instance, Akshaya Patra's hi-tech cooking mechanisms produce hot, hygienic and nutritious meals while avoiding human contact. The kitchens adhere to Food Safety Management Systems where all the cooking equipment is sterilised with steam before the cooking procedure starts. They use food-safe SS 304 Grade vessels and conduct trainings regularly with the cooks and supervisors to ensure they follow the best and most efficient cooking practices.

Donate to NGOs this World NGO DayNGOs rely on support from the Government and donors because they do not operate for profit. One can support them by making online donations, participating in their fundraising efforts, or volunteering both online and offline.At Akshaya Patra, years of consistent support from the Government of India and their donor family helped them launch and implement multiple programmes like Disaster Relief feeding, Homeless Mothers Feeding and more for the underprivileged people.

When you donate to Akshaya Patra, you can also claim 80G deductions as the NGO is registered under Section 12A (a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.So, become a part of their change-maker community on this World NGO Day. Contribute and help secure the lives of millions of people in need!