A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. Their relationship with offices and agencies of the United Nations system differs depending on their goals, their venue and the mandate of a particular institution. [Source: Google]
This was history. Present scenario witnesses the change of NGO from voluntary organization to money minting machines. Certainly the definition of NGOs has changed. They are no less than Money Making Machines, of course tax free; run by a bunch of swindlers these days. I don’t say, all NGOs are in the quest to make money; but there are many. You have to agree with me, there are a lot of NGOs whose only objective is to earn riches in the name of betterment of people. Drastically Professionally Unmanaged!
I have come across few NGOs, which are doing an appreciable job to the outer world, but the reality is pretty hard to digest. Internally, these goody-good NGOs are making millions of rupees using someone’s name. You must be pondering, how do they make money? Ah ha…not so difficult to answer. Their minister relatives get them the Grants sanctioned under various schemes of the Ministries and that money is not utilised for anyone’s benefit but their own. The money goes straight into their deep pockets. Thus, setting up an NGO has become a profession for many; for they can fill their lockers from the funds received. When enquiries are made, all they come up with is lame act of pressurising the investigating officers at the hands of higher officials in the ministry; Fearlessly and Shamelessly staring in the eyes of their eyes and saying,” Why do you even attempt doing things, which lead to pressures on you from the ministry?”
Why is it that we see so many NGOs coming up lately? Is it like the hearts of people are crying to lend a hand to needy and bring change in the society or are they were moved by the poverty, illiteracy, etc, in the country? People are opening an NGO because it is a BUSINESS WITH SURE PROFIT. Most of them have contacts and using them in an apt way is certainly a convenient way of making money.
You know a powerful politician or bureaucrat? Great! He will do the business with you. You know some NRI with heart inclined towards India, overflowing with love and care for its people? Even better! Impressing international funding agencies would now be a cakewalk for you. If one owns an NGO, they need not worry about the career of their children; naturally those kids have secure future with money churning machines at their disposal. One just got to transfer some special skills of presenting themselves as a body that is bleeding with care for the countrymen, and you are done.
And surprisingly, many of these NGOs are owned by eminent media persons. What’s even more shocking is, the people who were trusted throughout their career for raising voices on the behalf of people, have dragged themselves down so low.
I don’t say that all NGOs are money minting entities. There are several that genuinely serve the deprived and have set up the model of transparency. But there’s a long way to go, miles to travel in order to stop these NGOs from sucking money. Believe! Because we can do more than just making a straight face and saying “It Happens Only In India”.
Random Rings 